Bhimashanker Scorp Report

Hi Guys
Just back from a brief visit to Bhimashanker. Had gone there specifically for finding two scorp species that had eluded me for quite some time. Though I had seen both the species once or twice before, I never managed to photograph them.
This time I managed to get hold of one of those species Neoscorpiops taenicauda and pop it...
The genus Neoscorpiops is endemic to India and is known only from a few restricted localites.
The genus is represented by only three species viz. N. satarensis from Mahabaleshwar and Satara in Maharashtra, N. deccanensis known only from the type locality Sihnagad forest in Pune distrct in Maharashtra and N. taenicauda Matheran and Bhimashanker in Maharashtra.
These are black coloured, small to medium sized scorps which generally are found in stone cervices or under rocks. They are scorps of moderately high elevations and are conspicuously absent at low elevations. The species can be distinguished from each other by the number of ventral trichobothries on the patella.
A publication by Dr. Bastawade in JBNHS is wroth reading for anyone who is interested in working on these scorps. In case anyone wants details let me know i can forward a copy of the MS.
Cheers
Aamod

Orthochirus's of INDIA

Orthochirus Karsch, 1892 consists of small-sized buthids whose size does not exceed 60 mm (Kovařík, 2004), but however Indian forms do not exceed 40 mm. The carapace in lateral view is distinctly inclined downwards from the median eyes towards the anterior margin. Species in this genus exhibit beta-configuration in arrangement of trichobothries on dorsal surface of femur of pedipalp. Tibial spurs are present on the third and fourth legs. The I and II metasomal segments without carinae. IV and V metasomal segments ventrally punctuate. Telson elongated, aculeus as long as or longer than vesicle (Tikader and Bastawade, 1983; Kovařík, 2004).

Currently 29 species have been included in the genus Orthochirus globally (Kovařík, 2004; Rein, 2008), out of which 5 have been reported from India. Of this the status of O. scrobiculosis (Grube, 1873) is considered doubtful (Kovařík, 2004). Apart from this, based on the presence of d2 on the dorsal surface of O. krishnai, Kovařík (2004) considered this species as a nomen dubium.

Links

Just want to share some useful links for downloading MS and checking out pictures of scorps

Scorpion Files- http://www.ub.ntnu.no/scorpionfiles/ One of the most comphrehensive websites for scorpions. Contains excellent photographs of scorps, useful links, there is blog that has been created which is updated regularly.

František Kovařík- http://kovarex.com/scorpio/ One of the few scorpion taxonomists who have extensively worked on Indian scorpions. You can download most of his works from this website.

The Scorpion Fauna- http://pagesperso-orange.fr/eycb/scorpions/ Excellent scorpion information and pictures by Eric Ythier. One of the best pages on the net for quality ensured scorpion information.

The American Arachnology Society- http://www.americanarachnology.org/

Scorpion Hunter- http://www.scorpionhunter.com/ Good quality UV lights for scorp searching

Indian Scorpions

Finally found a easy way to share my experience and the joy of studying Indian scorpions
I hope you will find "scorps" interesting and beautiful (if u dont ... its still acceptable) as I do.
Knowledge is like water... never say "No" to anyone who is thirsty!
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