Journey Through Wilderness: September 2018

ARTHROPODS

SCORPIONS OR ARTHROPODS

SRI LANKA

SCORPIONS OR ARTHROPODA
OF
SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. The invertebrate fauna is as large as it is common to other regions of the world. There are about 2 million species of arthropods found in the world, and still it is counting. So many new species are discover up to this time also. So it is very complicated and difficult to summarize the exact number of species found within a certain region.

Scorpions are easily identified by their large pedipalas and curved tail above the head. There are about 1,750 species of scorpions described within 13 families. Sri Lanka is home for 18 scorpions under 3 families. Whilst all scorpions are venomous, only one species native to Sri Lanka is fatal to humans.

A research conducted by the Peradeniya University Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science Faculty has found the world’s smallest and the biggest scorpions in Sri Lanka. According to animal scientist Sanjeewa Jayaratne, the world’s smallest scorpion found in Sri Lanka is 1 cm in length. “The biggest is 9 inches.

He said both these varieties are endemic to Sri Lanka. The research was conducted by Animal Science Department Head Prof. Kithsiri Ranawaka along with Prof. Frantisek Kvasnicka of Czech Republic.

The smallest scorpion was named after Chamus Saradiel to remember Saradiel of Uthuwankanda, Sri Lanka on a request by Professor Frantisek. He said 18 scorpion varieties live in Sri Lanka and four of them are endemic to Sri Lanka.

Family: Buthidae - Fat-tailed scorpions

Buthoscorpio sarasinorum – - Endemic

Charmus laneaus – - Endemic

Hottentotta tamulus - Not endemic
(only dangerously venomous scorpion in Sri Lanka)

Isometrus acanthurus –

Isometrus acanthurus loeble - Not endemic

Isometrus basilicus - Endemic

Isometrus besucheti - Endemic

Isometrus garyi - Endemic

Isometrus loebli - Endemic

Isometrus maculatus - Not endemic

Isometrus thurstoni - Not endemic