Common names:
No common name. All Euscorpius were previously placed in the family Chactidae.

This widespread species has currently 23 valid subspecies, which are more or less difficult to identify. A major revision of this species (and the other species of Euscorpius) is fortunately underway, and a lot of exciting changes are expected. These pages will be updated as soon as the changes get official.

Distribution:
Africa (Egypt, Libya, Madeira, Tunisia), Asia (Turkey), Europe (Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Bosnia and herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, France, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain (including Baleares), Turkey, Ukraine, Yugoslavia).

Habitat:
Warm, temperate climate in South-Western Europe. It is found in different habitats (in gardens, in forrests, under stones, in houses, in old walls). See some habitat pictures HERE.
The species in not uncommon in human habitations. Data on natural habitats in Southern Europe wanted!

Venom:
Few medical data available, but data from Italy suggest local effects only. Mildly venomous. Harmless scorpion, which rarely will use its stinger.

Selected litterature:
Torregiani, F. & C. La Cavera (1990). Puntura di scorpione (Euscorpius, sp.) in Italia e rassegna dello scorpionismo [Scorpion sting (Euscorpius, sp.) in Italy and scorpionism review.] Minerva Medica, vol. 81 (suppl. 2), pp. 137-145.
Crucitti, P. (1993). Distribution and diversity of Italian scorpions. REDIA, vol. LXXVI (2), pp. 281-300.
Ugolini, A. & Vannini, M. (1992). Parental care and larval survival in Euscorpius carpathicus. Boll. Zool., vol. 59, pp. 443-446.
Kritscher, E, (1992). Erstnachweis von Skropionen auf den Maltesischen Inseln. Euscorpius carpathicus candiota (Birula, 1903) (Arachn.:Scorp.:Chactidae) auf Malta und Gozo. Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien, vol. 93, p. 185.
Vannini, M. & Ugolini, A. (1980). Permanence of Euscorpius carpathicus (L.) larvae on the mothers back (Scorpiones, Chactidae). Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol., vol. 7, pp. 45-47.

On the Internet:
Online identification key for Euscorpius
Some habitat pictures
European scorpions (Dr. Benjamin Gantenbein).
THE QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SENSILLA SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN THE SCORPION EUSCORPIUS CARPATHICUS by Frederick Zamow & Victor Fet.
Italian page
Structure de l'ovari-utérus chez la femelle du scorpion Euscorpius carpathicus avant fécondation. French poster.

General:
This species varies very much in color. Some poulations are black with yellow-brown legs and darker sting (telson). Others have dark brown bodies. Some populations are also light brown, almost orangish in color. Because of these variations, colors are not a safe way to identify Euscorpius. Adults measure 35-45 mm. It is a typical fossorial scorpion with large, strong pedipalps, a stout body, short legs and a short, thin tail (metasoma). See the Euscorpius identification key for more details.

This species is kept in captivity (especially in Europe), but not as coomon as should be espected from a "native" scorpion. Few commersial suppliers deliver this species (and other Euscorpius).

Left: Euscorpius carpathicus from Firenze, Italy
Right: Brown form of Euscorpius carpathicus from Fiesole, Italy
photos by Jan Ove Rein (C)