A tiny new 2.5-centimetre-long scorpion species has been discovered in Turkey.
With the new discovery, the scorpions from this genus found in Turkey go up to a total of five known species.
Scientists describe the new species of scorpion, Euscorpius lycius, from the area of ancient Lycia, what today consists the regions of the Mugla and Antalya Provinces in Southwestern Turkey.
Euscorpius is a genus of scorpions, commonly called small wood-scorpions. As their name suggest these scorpions don't impress with a large size, the biggest representative being around 5 cm long.
The group is widespread in North Africa and across Europe. Euscorpius scorpions are relatively harmless, with poison that has effects similar to a mosquito bite.
The new species is named after the historical region of Ancient Lycia, which is referenced in Egyptian and Ancient Greek myths, researchers said.
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 scorpion is a relatively small representative, reaching a size ranging between two and two and a half centimetres.
The colour of the adult representatives is pale, between brown and reddish, with pedipalps, or claws, usually darker than the rest of the body.
"A total of 26 specimens belonging to the new species were collected from Antalya and Mugla Province, in the south-west of Turkey," said Dr Yagmur, the lead author of the study.
"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," Yagmur said.
The study was published in the journal ZooKeys.
