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Richard F. Ayrey
The new scorption, Vaejovis brysoni, in its natural habitat. It was discovered just outside of the city of Tucson.
By Douglas Main
LiveScience
A new species of scorpion has been discovered in the mountains just outside the city of Tucson, Ariz.
The newfound creature is only about 1 inch (27 millimeters) long and sports a dapper brown color. It lives in the oak forests in the Santa Catalina Mountains, at an elevation of around 5,900 feet (1,800 meters), according to a study describing the new scorpion published recently in the journal ZooKeys.
It's the ninth new species of mountain scorpion discovered in Arizona in the past six years, more than doubling the number of known scorpion species in the area. It has been named Vaejovis brysoni, after the man who collected the first specimen, Robert Bryson, Jr., who was looking for a different animal at the time, according to a release from the journal's publisher.
Using ultraviolet flashlights, researchers found members of the new scorpion tribe at night alongside the Catalina Highway.
Richard F. Ayrey
The new scorption, Vaejovis brysoni, with juveniles on its back.
Like other scorpions, this species often carries its pale-colored juveniles on its back. The arachnid can carry an average of 24 baby scorpions, the study found. It's unclear how venomous the creature may be.
"This latest new scorpion is a prime example of the amazing diversity of life still to be discovered, right here in 21st century America," said researcher and study co-author Richard F. Ayrey, in the statement.
Reach Douglas Main at dmain@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @Douglas_Main.
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Leave a Comment:
Man, it must be a challenging job identifying different species of arachnids and insects. I swear that thing looks just like every other brown scorpion I've ever seen.
Hmmm... Interesting new species, but, please hide them from Andrew Zimmern...
Better them than me. I've got scorpophobia
You mean "arachnophobia," don't you, Doug? Or is it just scorpions that creep you out? How on earth do you control them? Certainly not with Roach Motels or Combat...?
Nah...that's just Joe Arpaio.
Republicans sure are looking stranger and stranger....
I had a dream about a very large scorpion the other night.
Wow Tom how long did it take you to think that one up.
Just what Arizona needs is another Scorpion type!! One kind is more than enough for me. Hate those damned things!!
Another scorpion species????? You can HAVE 'em! I'm glad that I live on the East coast in the suburbs; all we have to worry about are wolf spiders, garter snakes, field mice & Daddy longlegs! The city dwellers contend with cockroaches, waterbugs & sewer rats. Still, I'll take all of these over scorpions ANY day!!!! Reminds me of that old 1950s sci-fi movie, The Black Scorpion. They give me the willies just looking at pictures!!!!!
Big deal, we found a new scorpion. I wonder who will be the ones to study it once the USA falls, which is happening right under our noses.
Who cares about a stupid scorpion when millions of babies are aborted every year. I bet the researchers who study this scorpion are pro choice. If a baby dies in the womb, they shout, right on! you go girl! you got your rights! But if someone accidentally steps on one of these scorpions and kills it, you'll see them bringing a case to the supreme court. So why do I need to listen to these people about scorpions? Because they studied biology and chemistry and physics? Because they have a degree in zoology? That doesn't mean anything, except for the fact that you can have a degree and still be a moron.
Let's start talking about things that are important, not meaningless stupidity.
Okay, Richard ..... go for it. Let's start talking about what is important to ..... to ..... you.
And, Richard, let's do it on a vine about insects.