Euscorpius
Euscorpius italicus
Euscorpius is the only largely confined to Europe genus of scorpions ( Scorpiones ) with 17 recognized species in 2010. All species of the genus are generally harmless to humans.
Features
The species of the genus Euscorpius are relatively small, and reach the body lengths of less than 30 mm to 50 mm. Of the three other previously disputed to the family Euscorpiidae identified genera Plesiochactas, Megacormus and Troglocormus to Euscorpius differs by only one row tooth-like structures as well as paired bumps on the insides of the fingers of the Palpenhand. In addition, the ventral edge of the movable finger of the chelicerae is at Euscorpius smooth and the middle keel on the bottom of Metasomas ( tail) is hardly formed or missing.
Distribution and habitat
Euscorpius is the only largely confined to Europe genus of scorpions. 13 of the 17 currently recognized species occur only in Europe, three more species inhabit alongside parts of Europe and North Africa, two species ( E. italicus and E. mingrelicus ) and Western Asia. By E. italicus also reserves in Iraq are known whether these occurrences are of natural origin, is currently unknown. In Europe, the species is largely confined to the south. Overall, however, five species reach with Switzerland and Austria, Central Europe, one species ( E. flavicaudis ) is established as neozoon in England, Brazil and Uruguay.
The species of the genus inhabit cool temperate to semi-arid landscapes. Like most scorpions also colonize the Euscorpius species predominantly stony or rocky habitats, where they stay during the day under stones lying on the ground or dead wood. Some Kulturfolger as flavicaudis E. and E. italicus are also frequently found in old stone walls or house walls made of natural stone.
System
From Fet 17 species currently recognized:
- Euscorpius alpha Caporiacco, 1950
- Euscorpius balearicus Caporiacco, 1950
- Euscorpius beroni Fet, 2000
- Euscorpius carpathicus (Linnaeus, 1767)
- Euscorpius concinnus (C. L. Koch, 1837)
- Euscorpius flavicaudis ( DeGeer, 1778)
- Euscorpius gamma Caporiacco, 1950
- Euscorpius germanus (C. L. Koch, 1837)
- Euscorpius hadzii Caporiacco, 1950
- Euscorpius italicus (Herbst, 1800 )
- Euscorpius koschewnikowi Birula, 1900
- Euscorpius mingrelicus ( Kessler, 1874)
- Euscorpius naupliensis (C. L. Koch, 1837)
- Euscorpius oglasae Caporiacco, 1950
- Euscorpius sicanus (C. L. Koch, 1837)
- Euscorpius tauricus (C. L. Koch, 1837)
- Euscorpius tergestinus (C. L. Koch, 1837)
Since most Euscorpius populations of the Balkan Peninsula have hardly been investigated, goes Fet from an actually still significantly higher species number between 22 and 24. With Euscorpius Lycius another species was described in November, 2013, which is found in southwest Turkey.
Poison
The stitches of Euscorpius are generally harmless to humans. After Braunwald small species such as E. alpha or E. germanus can penetrate with their stings only a few places the human skin, but larger species such as E. flavicaudis or E. italicus this is achieved relatively easily. The effect of the stitches is comparable to bee or wasp stings.