Urodacus uncinus

Urodacus uncinus
	Top = male (holotype) Bottom = female ; ; Scale bar = 1 cm (0.4 in)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Scorpiones
Family:	Urodacidae
Genus:	Urodacus
Species:	U. uncinus
Binomial name
	Urodacus uncinus; Buzatto et al., 2023
	U. uncinus is only represented by yellow circles.

Urodacus uncinus is a species of scorpion in the family Urodacidae. It is endemic to the northern part of Western Australia.^[1]

Description

Urodacus uncinus is morphologically indistinguishable from U. lunatus and examination of the male genitalia is required.^[1]

Distribution and ecology

Urodacus uncinus is rare and is only known from 6 locations and 16 specimens in north-eastern Pilbara. It is known to occur in an area of around 12,000 km² (4600 mi²). This number may not be accurate because of its potentially patchy distribution. That means the area may be under 10,000 km² (3900 mi²). Species with such distributions are considered short-range endemic.^[1]

Due to certain morphological features, it is thought to live a fossorial lifestyle. They may only live in creeks and drainage lines.^[1]

Etymology

The specific epithet "uncinus" comes from Latin and means "hook". This refers to the aculeus (stinger) that is more strongly curved than what is usually seen in the genus.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Buzatto, Bruno A.; Clark, Huon L.; Harvey, Mark S.; Volschenk, Erich S. (2023-11-03). Cooper, Steven (ed.). "Two new species of burrowing scorpions (Urodacidae: Urodacus) from the Pilbara region of Western Australia with identical external morphology†". Australian Journal of Zoology. 71 (1). doi:10.1071/ZO23018. ISSN 0004-959X.

[:0-1] Buzatto, Bruno A.; Clark, Huon L.; Harvey, Mark S.; Volschenk, Erich S. (2023-11-03). Cooper, Steven (ed.). "Two new species of burrowing scorpions (Urodacidae: Urodacus) from the Pilbara region of Western Australia with identical external morphology†". Australian Journal of Zoology. 71 (1). doi:10.1071/ZO23018. ISSN 0004-959X.

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