List of scorpions of Sri Lanka

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. The invertebrate fauna is as large as it is common to other regions of the world. There are about 2 million species of arthropods found in the world, and still it is counting. So many new species are discover up to this time also. So it is very complicated and difficult to summarize the exact number of species found within a certain region.

The following list provide the scorpions in Sri Lanka.

Scorpions

Phylum:

Arachnida

Order:
Scorpiones

Scorpions are easily identified by their large pedipalas and curved tail above the head. There are about 1,750 species of scorpions described within 13 families. Sri Lanka is home for 20 scorpions under 4 families and 9 genera. Whilst all scorpions are venomous, only one species native to Sri Lanka is fatal to humans. During the field survey conducted throughout the country in 2016, new species have been identified and species belong to subgenus Reddyanus was elevated into genus level and removed them from the genus Isometrus.[1][2][3][4]

Hottentotta tamulus - only dangerously venomous scorpion, recently found from Sri Lanka
Isometrus besucheti

Family: Buthidae - Fat-tailed scorpions

Family: Chaerilidae

Family: Hormuridae

Family: Scorpionidae

  • Heterometrus gravimanus
    - Endemic
  • Heterometrus indus
  • Heterometrus serratus - Endemic
  • Heterometrus swammerdami
  • Heterometrus yaleensis
    - Endemic

References