A REVIEW OF AND ADDITIONS TO THE CURRENT KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCORPION GENUS EUSCORPIUS THORELL, 1876 (SCORPIONES, EUSCORPIIDAE)

Abstract

The present work provides a general survey of the scorpion genus Euscorpius Thorell, 1876. Each species is briefly summarized, with notes on taxonomy, morphology, geographic distribution and ecology. The distribution and diagnostic characters are shown in easy to read tables and an identification key is provided. All the current valid species of Euscorpius (except Euscorpius koschewnikowi Birula, 1903) and several peculiar morphotypes are illustrated, with the first images of Euscorpius beroni Fet, 2000. The main aim of this work is to provide a complete review which will be useful both to have clearance on current systematics of the complex genus Euscorpius and to interpret possible future taxonomic rearrangements. Euscorpius italicus (Herbst, 1800) was found for the first time in Siena (central-western Italy), a record that represents a new allochthonous population, probably due to anthropogenic origin.