Two Euscorpius species coexisting in the same habitat in Italy

Scorpions found within the same area will often choose different habitats and behavioral strategies to avoid competition. Marco Colombo has now reported some interesting observations of Euscorpius italicus and E. tergestinus found in the same area and in the same habitat in Italy. The observations and the existence of sympatry (organisims living in the same geographical territory/geographical area) and syntopy (organisms living in the same habitat(s) within the geographical distribution of the organisms) in scorpions are discussed.

Abstract:
The author found syntopic specimens of Euscorpius italicus and E. tergestinus inside and nearby an abandoned fortress in Verona Province, Veneto, Italy. This discovery highlights a possibility of coexistence of congeneric species not only in the same territory, as already observed, but also in the same habitat and microhabitat, bringing some interesting questions about interspecific competition within the genus Euscorpius.

Reference:
Colombo M. On two syntopic species of Euscorpius Thorell, 1876 (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) in and nearby San Marco fortress (Veneto, Italy): a prelimnary investigation. Euscorpius. 2009(87):1-14. [Free fulltext]

Family Euscorpiidae