New Species of Wood Scorpion Identified in Turkey

A new Zookeys report describes a the latest scorpion species to be discovered in Turkey.

The new species, Euscorpius lycius, is named after the ancient Lycia region, which is now the provinces of Muğla and Antalya in Southwestern Turkey.

The new scorpion species belongs to a genus commonly referred to as small wood-scorpions, which, as the name suggests, is not very big. The largest documented specimen of the Euscorpius genus is only 5 centimeters long. As a genus, Euscorpius are prevalent throughout North Africa and Europe.

Euscorpius are also quite harmless. If stung by one, it would feel similar to a mosquito bite, according to Ersen Aydın Yağmur, lead author of the Zookeys study.

"The new species is named after the historical region of Ancient Lycia, which is referenced in Egyptian and Ancient Greek myths," Yağmur wrote in a news release. "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 species is marked by bulky claws that are darker in color than the rest of its body. Adult specimens range in color from pale brown to pale red and are on average about 2.5 centimeters long.

"A total of 26 specimens belonging to the new species were collected from Antalya and Muğla Province, in the south-west of Turkey." Yağmur said. "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."