Description

Lychas ‘Pilbara1’ is a very rare, currently undescribed morphospecies of scorpion found on steep rocky hillsides in North-west WA.

This is a small scorpion with an overall reddish-brown colouration with a darker tail and lighter feet. The taxonomy of this scorpion is very interesting. At first glance they are easily mistaken for Spider-hunting scorpions (Isometroides sp.), as they possess the characteristic pitted metasomal (tail) segments that define Isometroides. However they also have a subaculear tubercle (ST). The only known genus of scorpions which possess both pitted metasomal segments and an ST is the monotypic Hemilychas from inland eastern australia. Hemilychas is externally very similar in morphology, and you could be forgiven for thinking that Pilbara1 belongs to Hemilychas, but DNA sequencing places this scorpion in Lychas, meaning that the pitted metasomal segment and ST combination convergently evolved in both this species and in Hemilychas alexandrina. All of the species with those traits are obligate spider predators, which could mean that pitted segments are some kind of adaptation for killing spiders.

These scorpions are sensitive and prone to fungal infections. They must be kept in a dry enclosure with moderate ventilation but a water dish with scoria must always be provided.

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