The Scorpion files - Euscorpius identification (2024)

This key is based on the keys in Kovarík (1999) and Scherabon et al. (2000). See below for full references. Please note that the number of trichobothria and their distribution may vary within the species.

A lot of research are being done on Euscorpius taxonomy at the moment. The use of DNA-technology has made it easier to uncover some of the difficulties with this complex genus. New species have been described, and new one is comming. I will try to update this page and the key as soon as I get more information about the changes.

NEW INFORMATION: In a paper in October 2002, Fet & Soleglad havepublished several important changes for the "Euscorpius carpathicus species complex". E. carpathicus isnow limited to Romania only, E. tergestinus is confirmed as a valid species, and two new species (E. hadzii and E. koschewnikowi) aredescribed. In 2003 another species was split from the "E. carpathicus complex": E. sicanus. A new species (E. naupliensis) from Greece was split from E. italicus in December. I will try to include these changes into the identification key as soon as possible.

Thanks to Professor Victor Fet for reviewing the key, and for giving important information and suggestions!

The chela manus is called tibia by some authors. Black dots indicate trichobothria.

Trichobothria are small sensory hairs that are located on the pedipalps of the scorpions. They look like this (small hairs arising from a cup-shaped depression in the cuticula):

Key to the species of Euscorpius:

1.
- Four trichobothria ventrally on the chela manus (figure): Go to .. 2
- Five or more trichobothria ventrally on the chela manus: Go to .. 5
2.
- Usually 7 or more trichobothria on the ventral aspect of the pedipalp patella (figure), and 23-29 on its external aspect. Ventral side of 5 th. metasomal segment bears central granules that usually form a conspicuous keel: .. E. carpathicus species group: E. balearicus (Balearic Islands - see below) E. carpathicus (Romania) E. carpathicus candiota (Crete (Greece) - final status not resolved) E. concinnus (Italy, Southeastern France) E. hadzii (Bulgaria, Greece and the Balkans) E. koschewnikowi (Greece) E. sicanus (Italy, Malta, Greece and Northern Africa) E. tauricus (Ukraina) E. tergestinus (France, Italy and parts of the Balkans) There are probably a few more species in this species group not yet resolved. Some of these species can be identified based on the collection site. Generally, the identification of the species in this species group is for experts, but I will try to make an key for this group later. More information about all these species here
- The same as above, but the scorpion orginates from one of the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Cabrera, Ibiza or Formentera). Coloration light brownish tan with little contrasting patterns. Metasoma reduced propotionally, pedipals unusual large: .. E. balearicus Caporiacco, 1950
- Usually 5-6 trichobothria on the ventral aspect of the pedipalp patella (figure), and 20-22 trichobothria on its external aspect. Ventral side of 5 th. metasomal segment smooth and rounded or has traces of central granules but do not form a conspicuous keel: Go to .. 3
3.
- Ventral side of 5 th. metasomal segment smooth and rounded. Adults usually not longer than 30 mm: Go to .. 4
- Ventral side of 5 th. metasomal with traces of central granules. Almost always 6 trichobothria on the ventral aspect of the pedipalp patella. Adult size avaerage 38 mm. Darker color: .. E. mingrelicus (Kessler, 1874)
- Ventral side of 5 th. metasomal with traces of central granules. Almost always 5 (rarely 6) trichobothria on the ventral aspect of the pedipalp patella. Adult size avaerage 32 mm. Lighter color: .. E. gamma Caporiacco, 1950*
* Several types of Euscorpius are known from Balkan. These are all included into what is known as "mingrelicus complex". Both E. mingrelicus and E. gamma belongs to this group. A third species, E. beroni Fet, 2000, was recently described from this species complex. This species is not included in this key. This species is very closly related to E. gamma, and at the moment only professional taxonomists can tell them apart. There is being done research on the "mingrelicus complex", and time will show wether this species complex harbors other new species.
4.
- Always 5 trichobothria on the ventral aspect of the pedipalp patella. Scorpion collected from other places than northern Italy, west of the river Adige (Etsch): .. E. germanus (C. L. Koch, 1837)
- Five or 6 trichobothria on the ventral aspect of the pedipalp patella. Scorpion collected in northern Italy, west of the river Adige (Etsch): .. E. alpha Caporiacco, 1950
5.
- Five to six trichobothria ventrally on the chela manus (figure). Usually 10-13 trichobothria on the ventral aspect of the pedipalp patella, and 26-29 on its external aspect. Legs usually light (yellow) colored: .. E. flavicaudis (DeGeer, 1778)
- Eight to 11 trichobothria ventrally on the chela manus (figure). Usually 11-13 trichobothria on the ventral aspect of the pedipalp patella, and 26-45 on its external aspect. Legs usually dark colored. Largest Euscorpius with size up to 50 mm: Go to .. 6
6. - Trichobothrium et on the chelal fixed finger ("the pincers" - see figure xx) is situatedeither midpoint between outer denticles 4 and 5 or closer to 4. Numbers of trichobothria on the external aspect of pedipalp patella serieesba 5 - 13. Large Euscorpius, generally dark brown to almost black in overall coloration: ..E. italicus (Herbst, 1800)
- Trichobothrium et on the chelal fixed finger ("the pincers" - see figure xx) is more proximal, situatedclose to outer denticle 5. Numbers of trichobothria on the external aspect of pedipalp patella serieesba 0 -2 . Medium to large Euscorpius, generally brown to dark brown in overall coloration. Distribution restricted toGreece (Peloponnese and Zakynthos Island (including nearby Pelouzo Island): ..E. naupliensis (C. L. Koch, 1837)
References: Kovarík, F. (1999). Review of European scorpions, with a key to species. Serket, 6 (2), pp. 38-44. Scherabon, B., B. Gantenbein, V. Fet, M. Barker, M. Kunter, C. Kropf & D. Huber (2000). A new species of scorpion from Austria, Slovenia and Croatia: Euscorpius gamma Caporiacco, 1950, stat. nov. (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae). Ekologia (Bratislava), 19 (suppl. 3), pp. 253-262. Gantenbein, B, V. Fet, M. Barker & A. Scholl (2000). Nuclear and mitochondrial markers reveal the existence of two parapatric scorpion species in the Alps: Euscorpius germanus (C. L. Koch, 1837) and E. alpha Caporiacco, 1950, stat. nov. (Euscorpiidae). Revue Suisse de Zoologie, 107 (4), pp. 843-869. Fet, V. (2000). Scorpions (Aarchnida, Scorpiones) from the Balkan Penisula in the collection of the National Museum of Natural History, Sofia. Historia Naturalis Bulgarica, vol. 11, pp. 47-60.