‘Rare’ seasonal creature seen courting in mountains of Chile. It’s a new species
As the summer sun slowly warmed the Andes Mountains in Chile, a seasonal creature emerged and stretched its eight legs. The “rare” animal set out in search of a mate.
Visiting scientists spotted the courting animal — and discovered a new species.
Researchers visited the Maule Valley several times between 2022 and 2023 as part of a “comprehensive study” of the area’s arthropods, according to a study published May 7 in the peer-reviewed journal Zoosystematics and Evolution. Arthropods are a group of animals that includes scorpions, crabs, spiders and insects, among others.
During their visits, researchers encountered several unfamiliar-looking scorpions, the study said. They took a closer look at the animals and realized they’d discovered a new species: Urophonius trewanke, or the trewanke scorpion.
Trewanke scorpions are considered “small,” reaching up to 1.6 inches in length, the study said. They have eight legs, pincers and “yellowish” bodies covered in “dark brown spots.” Researchers described the species as “rare.”
Two trewanke scorpions were seen courting, the study said. A photo shows the pair that seem to be holding pincers.
Like other related scorpions, the new species is burrowing, adapted to low temperatures and only active during the spring and summer, the study said.
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Researchers said they named the new species “trewanke,” which means “scorpion” in the Mapungudun language of the indigenous Mapuche people. The Mapuche are “the original inhabitants from most parts of southern and central Chile.”
So far, trewanke scorpions have only been found in the Maule Valley, a region of the Andes Mountains about 170 miles south of Chile’s capital city of Santiago and near the Argentina border, the study said.
The new species was identified by its coloring, body shape, pincers and other subtle physical features, the study said. Researchers did not provide a DNA analysis of the new species.
The research team included Andrés Ojanguren-Affilastro, Fermín Alfaro, Martín Ramírez, Bernardino Camousseigt-Montolivo and Jaime Pizarro-Araya.
This story was originally published May 21, 2024 at 9:40 AM with the headline "‘Rare’ seasonal creature seen courting in mountains of Chile. It’s a new species."
