New Scorpion Discovered in Columbia
Posted by: Loren Coleman on May 29th, 2008
Rhopalurus laticauda
The Scorpion Files today has alerted me that there is a recently discovered species from the genus Rhopalurus, newly described on 28 May 2008, from northeastern Colombia, from a holotype collected by C. A. Roncallo on 18 December 2006:
Rhopalurus caribensis Teruel & Roncallo, 2008.
It is closely related to Rhopalurus laticauda (pictured twice above, here at Cryptomundo). The Scorpion Files notes that the new species has probably been confused with Rhopalurus laticauda in the past.
For further reading and the new images of Rhopalurus caribensis, see the full (free) text of the scientific paper: Teruel R, Roncallo CA. “Rare or poorly known scorpions from Colombia. III. On the taxonomy and distribution of Rhopalurus laticauda Thorell, 1876 (Scorpiones: Buthidae), with the description of a new species of the genus.” Euscorpius. 2008(68):1-12.
Scorpiology? Even if undiscovered species of scorpions are classified as “cryptids”, I somehow doubt there will be any rush among the general public to discover one of these for themselves. But, thanks for the info, anyway.
Another side to this type of work, is that the researchers who have to travel (and camp out) in “undisturbed” rainforests of South America in their scorpion quests, have the opportunity to gain insight into anything else that may be lurking in those remote areas (be it “undiscovered” tribes or…). One would really hope that in their highly-specialised focus in looking under leaf-litter on the forest floor or crevices in the rocks that they don’t overlook or ignore other much larger things (even when those are equally reticent or cryptic as the small scorpions).
Even if the mainstream science researchers are reluctant to report on anything unusual out in the forests (for understandable fear of losing “credibility”), there are many channels through which this information can be passed on anonymously to interested parties!
Wow, the scorpion sure looks familiar, it doesn’t LOOK new anyways, just looks like a regular ole scorp to me, but im no expert, lol. my question is, is he very much more poison then other scorps? i like scorpions, the idea of the little present they give u if u bother them pulsing through my blood isn’t exactly pleasing…