Biology:Aops
| Aops | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | Urodacidae |
| Genus: | Aops Volschenk & Prendini, 2008 |
| Species: | A. oncodactylus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Aops oncodactylus Volschenk & Prendini, 2008[1]
| |
Aops is a monotypic genus of scorpions in the Urodacidae family. Its sole species is the troglobitic Aops oncodactylus, which is endemic to Australia . It was first described in 2008 by Erich Volschenk and Lorenzo Prendini.
Etymology
The generic name Aops comes from the Greek prefix a- (‘without’) and ops (‘eye’) because the scorpion is eyeless. The specific epithet oncodactylus derives from the Greek onkos (‘hook’) and daktylos (‘finger’) for the hooked ends of the pincer chelae.[1]
Description
The single specimen found, the holotype, is a juvenile female. It is the first troglobitic urodacid and the first troglobitic scorpion to be recorded from continental Australia. The specimen exhibits troglomorphic (adapted to cave-dwelling) features, including lack of eyes and pigmentation; it was blind, and its colouring was white to yellowish-cream.[1]
Distribution and habitat
The species was discovered in the course of a biotic survey of the caves of Barrow Island, a continental island lying 50 km off the coast of north-western Western Australia. The location was a chamber in Ledge Cave, which is only accessible by diving through a submerged passage.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Volschenk, Erich S; Prendini, Lorenzo (2008). "Aops oncodactylus, gen. et sp. nov., the first troglobitic urodacid (Urodacidae:Scorpiones), with a re-assessment of cavernicolous, troglobitic and troglomorphic scorpions". Invertebrate Systematics 22: 235–257. doi:10.1071/IS06054. https://www.academia.edu/12403893/Aops_oncodactylus_gen_et_sp_nov_the_first_troglobitic_urodacid_Urodacidae_Scorpiones_with_a_re_assessment_of_cavernicolous_troglobitic_and_troglomorphic_scorpions. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
Wikidata ☰ {{{from}}} entry
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