07 November, 2008

Two new species of Opisthacanthus from Madagascar

Madagascar is one of the most biologically diverse regions on Earth and new scorpion species are still being discovered. This time Lourenco & Goodman (2008) report about two new species in the genus Opisthacanthus from the Reserve Speciale d'Ankarana:

Opisthacanthus milloti Lourenco & Goodman, 2008
Opisthacanthus pauliani Lourenco & goodman, 2008

Interestingly, O. pauliani seems to be an obligate cave-dweller (troglobite). The article has a small discussion on troglobitism in scorpions and the scorpion fauna of the Reserve Speciale d'Ankarana. A indentification key to the Opisthacanthus of Madagascar is also included.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Goodman SM. Scorpions of the Reserve speciale d'Ankarana, Madagascar, with particular reference to cave-dwelling animals and the description of two new species (Arachnida, Scorpiones). Zoosystema. 2008;30(3):665-79. [Free fulltext]

Family Hemiscorpiidae

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