Vietnamese and French scientists have discovered a new species of
scorpion in the northern mountainous province of Bac Kan, according to
the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources.
This species (Euscorpiops cavernicola Lourenco Pham) was
discovered by Dr. Pham Dinh Sac from the institute under the Academy of
Science and Technology of Vietnam and Dr. Wilson Lourenco from the Paris
Museum of Natural History in France.
The
new species belongs to the Euscorpiidae family. It is discovered by the
research team on the basis of specimens collected in Hua Ma cave in
Quang Khe commune, Ba Be district. The description of the species is
published on the international journal Comptes Rendus Biologies in July.
This is the first time scientists have discovered Euscorpiidae scorpion species in the cave environment.
Dr. Sac was quoted by the VietNamNet Bridge as saying that the new
finding is not only significant in science but also has practical values
because scorpion venom is a natural material for the pharmaceutical
industry.-VNA