A shiny, bluish-black scorpion measuring barely five centimetres has been identified as a new species in Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve, marking the first confirmed discovery of the genus Liocheles in the state.
Named Liocheles similipalensis, the scorpion was discovered by researchers from the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation (TWF) in collaboration with officials of Similipal Tiger Reserve. The finding takes the number of known species in the genus Liocheles to seven.
Measuring between 44 and 53 mm in length, the scorpion has a dark black body with a distinctive bluish sheen. It is usually found in rocky areas and was recorded at an altitude of around 1,000 metres above sea level in a tropical moist deciduous forest.
The species was identified and described by researchers Saurabh Kininge, Tejas Thackeray and Akshay Khandekar, along with Prakash Chand Gogineni, field director of Similipal Tiger Reserve.
The specimens were first collected by forest officials in the reserve and later sent to Khandekar, a scientist at TWF, for detailed examination and identification.
How the new species was identified
The researchers confirmed that the scorpion belongs to the genus Liocheles based on the presence of tiny hair-like structures, called setae, beneath a part of its legs known as tarsomere II.
They also found that it differs from the six previously known Liocheles species in several physical features. These include variations in the patterns of ridges and rough surfaces on different body parts, as well as the proportions of its median eyes.
The species was named Liocheles similipalensis in honour of Similipal Tiger Reserve, where it was found. So far, it has been recorded only within the reserve, making Similipal its only known location.
Why the discovery matters
The discovery marks the first confirmed record of the genus Liocheles in Odisha and adds to the known diversity of scorpions in India.
Founded in June 2019, the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation is an Indian wildlife research organisation focused on scientific research, species discovery and conservation.
The researchers have called for more wildlife surveys and detailed studies to better understand the diversity and distribution of Liocheles species across India. They said further morphological and DNA-based studies would be needed to establish how these species are related and where else they might occur.
(Edited By Raunaq Lekhi)