(Press-News.org) Contact information: Ersen Aydın Yağmur
ersen.yagmur@gmail.com
Pensoft Publishers
A new scorpion species from ancient Lycia
Scientists discover and describe a new species of scorpion, Euscorpius lycius, coming from the area of ancient Lycia, nowadays the regions of the Muğla and Antalya Provinces in Southwestern Turkey. With the new discovery, the scorpions from this genus found in the country go up to a total of five known species. The study was published in the open access journal ZooKeys.
Euscorpius is a genus of scorpions, commonly called small wood-scorpions. As their name suggest these scorpions don't impress with a large size, the biggest representative being around 5 cm long. The group is widespread in North Africa and across Europe. Euscorpius scorpions are relatively harmless, with poison that has effects similar to a mosquito bite.
The new species is named after the historical region of Ancient Lycia, which is referenced in Egyptian and Ancient Greek myths. Like the mystical history of the region the new species is rather secretive and can be found mainly in pine at night hidden away in pine forests, crawling on rocks or sitting on stone garden walls. All localities where the species was found were humid and cool, with calcareous stones covered with moss.
The new scorpion is a relatively small representative, reaching a size ranging between two and two and a half centimeters. The color of the adult representatives is pale, between brown and reddish, with pedipalps, or claws, usually darker than the rest of the body.
"A total of 26 specimens belonging to the new species were collected from Antalya and Muğla Province, in the south-west of Turkey." explains Dr. Yağmur, the lead author of the study. "Further studies are in progress to understand the quantity and distribution of the different species and populations of the genus Euscorpius in Turkey and their relationship with the Greek populations."
INFORMATION:
Original Source:
Yağmur EA, Tropea G, Yeşilyurt F (2013) A new species of Euscorpius Thorell, 1876 (Scorpiones, Euscorpiidae) from south western Turkey. ZooKeys 348: 29. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.348.5943
A new scorpion species from ancient Lycia
2013-11-08
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Next-generation semiconductors synthesis
2013-11-08
Next-generation semiconductors synthesis
Aluminum nitride semiconductors synthesized at significantly reduced temperatures -- Described in the journal 'Applied Physics Letters'
WASHINGTON, D.C. Nov. 8, 2013 -- Although silicon semiconductors are nearly universal ...
Penn study identifies new trigger for breast cancer metastasis
2013-11-08
Penn study identifies new trigger for breast cancer metastasis
For years, scientists have observed that tumor cells from certain breast cancer patients with aggressive forms of the disease contained low levels of mitochondrial DNA. But, until recently, ...
Dialysis for the elderly: New evidence from Mayo Clinic to guide shared decision-making
2013-11-08
Dialysis for the elderly: New evidence from Mayo Clinic to guide shared decision-making
ROCHESTER, Minn. — New research from Mayo Clinic finds that half of elderly patients who start dialysis after age 75 will die within one year. The findings are being presented this ...
Gut reaction
2013-11-08
Gut reaction
Texas A&M, other scientists study factors influencing intestinal microbes
COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M University and University of North Carolina School of Medicine scientists have completed a study on the effect of diet complexity ...
NASA sees former Tropical Depression 30W entering Indian Ocean
2013-11-08
NASA sees former Tropical Depression 30W entering Indian Ocean
Now a remnant low pressure area, former Tropical Depression 30W may get new another life in another ocean. NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of the storm that showed strong circulation and ...
Hope builds for a drug that might shut down a variety of cancers
2013-11-08
Hope builds for a drug that might shut down a variety of cancers
Cancer cells 'go to sleep' when crucial set of molecules is targeted
NEW YORK (November 7, 2013) -- The most frequently mutated gene across all types of cancers is a gene called p53. Unfortunately ...
UMMS researchers answer century old question about 3D structure of mitotic chromosomes
2013-11-08
UMMS researchers answer century old question about 3D structure of mitotic chromosomes
New evidence shows that chromosomes assemble into linearly organized, compressed chromatin loops during the metaphase stage of cell division
Babies named for fathers but not mothers reflect US cultural ideologies
2013-11-08
Babies named for fathers but not mothers reflect US cultural ideologies
November 7, 2013 - From Cal Ripkin, Jr., to MLK to Robert Downey, Jr., finding men named after their fathers is easy. Children named after men in the family ...
Children born prematurely face up to a 19 times greater risk of retinal detachment later in life
2013-11-08
Children born prematurely face up to a 19 times greater risk of retinal detachment later in life
First large population-based study investigating long-term risks supports need for ophthalmologic follow-up of children and adults born before 32 weeks of gestation
SAN ...
New method predicts time from Alzheimer's onset to nursing home, death
2013-11-08
New method predicts time from Alzheimer's onset to nursing home, death
Draws on information from a single patient visit
NEW YORK, NY (Nov. 7, 2013) – A Columbia University Medical Center-led research team has clinically validated a new method ...