New scorpion species discovered in Death Valley

[ellisonz]

Photo: Wernerius inyoensis, several times actual size. Credit: Matthew Graham / For ZooKeys

-- Eryn Brown
March 23, 2012 | 12:21 pm

Even in territory as well-traversed as Southern California, biologists can discover new creatures. The latest? A new species of scorpion in Death Valley National Park.

Wernerius inyoensis is tiny — just over half an inch long — and may live underground.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas doctoral student Matthew Graham discovered it during a nighttime search of the park, using a special ultraviolet light that made the animal glow in the dark. Scorpions have chemicals in their exoskeletons that fluoresce under UV light.

The critter is also elusive. Michael Webber, another UNLV doctoral candidate who helped identify the species’ unique features, said that to her knowledge Graham hadn’t yet found another.

More: LA Times Story

[Cirque du So-What]

1. An aside concerning fluorescing scorpions

Back in the primordial era when I lived in California, black lights were all the rage. One night at a friend's house, black lights were on for the posters on the walls. A girl noticed what she thought was a 'plastic' scorpion on a table that was all lit-up by the UV. She reached down to pick it up, but the scorpion backed up and presented a defensive position. The shriek of terror she emitted was blood-curdling, to say the least.

[Kolesar]

2. Ha! and I like your sig line quote

it fits today.

[marybourg]

4. We Arizona desert dwellers go

out at nite with black lite flashlites looking for the critters. Some kill them; some sell them. I've only seen 1 at my house in nearly 20 years.

[Cirque du So-What]

7. His rented house had too many openings where scorpions could enter

I saw a scorpion at his place another time. After that, I never felt comfortable going over there.

[TexasProgresive]

3. Ain't thtat the cutest lil stainging lizard!??!n/t

[Demeter]

5. Oh joy. Just what the world needs

another GOP splinter group.

[Kennah]

6. Why are you hating on scorpions? Are you in need of a DU hug?

[Odin2005]

8. Cool! Amazing that anything can live in DV.