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DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.18590/euscorpius.2017.vol2017.iss247.1

Abstract

We report the remnants of five new scorpion specimens discovered dead in Levana Cave in Israel in December 2015. We confirm that they belong to the relict scorpion Akrav israchanani Levy, 2007 (Akravidae), famously described from the neighboring Ayyalon Cave, also from dead specimens. The details of morphology of the new specimens are given; they match completely the characters of A. israchanani redescribed by Fet, Soleglad & Zonstein (2011). This second record indicates a wider distribution of this unique cave scorpion, which, however, is extinct in both caves. There is still no evidence that live populations of this species exist.

References with DOI

FET, V., M. E. SOLEGLAD & S. L. ZONSTEIN. 2011. The genus Akrav Levy, 2007 (Scorpiones: Akravidae) revisited. Euscorpius, 134: 1-49. https://doi.org/10.18590/euscorpius.2011.vol2011.iss134.1

FRUMKIN, A. & H. GVIRTZMAN. 2006. Cross-formational rising groundwater at an artesian karstic basin: the Ayalon Saline Anomaly, Israel. Journal of Hydrology, 318: 316–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.06.026

FRUMKIN, A. & I. NAAMAN. 2015. Levana Cave. Unpublished Report. Israel Cave Research Center, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

LEVY, G. 2007. The first troglobite scorpion from Israel and a new chactoid family (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Zoology of the Middle East, 40: 91–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2007.10638209

Sasowsky, J. Mylroie, S.A. Engel & A.S. Engel (eds., Hypogene Cave Morphologies. Selected papers and abstracts of the symposium held February 2 through 7, 2014, San Salvador Island, Bahamas. Karst Waters Institute Special Publication 18, Karst Waters Institute, Leesburg, Virginia. 111 p.

POR, F. D., C. DIMENTMAN, A. FRUMKIN & I. NAAMAN. 2013. Animal life in the chemoautotrophic ecosystem of the hypogenic groundwater cave of Ayyalon (Israel): A summing up. Natural Sciences, 5(4A): 7-13. https://doi.org/10.4236/ns.2013.54a002

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