History of study, updated checklist, distribution and key of scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) from China

Dongwuxue Yanjiu. 2014 Jan;35(1):3-19. doi: 10.11813/j.issn.0254-5853.2014.1.003.

Abstract

This review describes the history of taxonomic research on scorpions and provides an updated checklist and key of the scorpions currently known in China. This checklist is based on a thorough review of the extant literatures on scorpion species whose presence has been confirmed in China through field expeditions and examination of scorpion collections, excepting a few members that have no clear distribution or are currently in doubt. Totally, the scorpion fauna of China consists of 53 species and subspecies belonging to 12 genera crossing five families, with 33 species (62.3%) and one genus being recorded as endemic. Additionally, identification key and the distribution of scorpions from China are provided.

Keywords: Checklist; China; Distribution; Key; Scorpion; Taxonomy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arachnida / classification*
  • Arachnida / physiology*
  • China
  • Demography

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (31071942), the Basic Project of Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2007FY210800), and the 973 program (2010CB529800).