Akrav israchanani is an extinct species of scorpions from the Ayalon Cave in Israel.[1] It is the only species in the genus Akrav and the family Akravidae.
| Akrav | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Superfamily: | Chactoidea |
| Family: | †Akravidae Levy, 2007 |
| Genus: | †Akrav Levy, 2007 |
| Species: | †A. israchanani
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Akrav israchanani Levy, 2007
| |
Description
editAkrav israchanani was an eyeless, brown, troglobitic scorpion of about 50mm in length first described from only 20 dry, cuticular remains of hollow carcasses.[1] The combinations of characteristics was unusual enough for the scorpion to be placed in its own, monotypic family, however this has been called into question by later researchers.[2]
The name Akrav israchanani combines the Hebrew word for scorpion, "akrav", with the names of the researchers who identified it, Israel Naaman and Hanan Dimentman.[3]
Habitat and distribution
editThe scorpion was originally known only from the Ayalon Cave in Israel, a deep limestone cave, isolated from rainwater and the surface by a layer of chalk. The extinction of the scorpion is inferred from the lack of live or recently dead specimens.[1][2] In December 2015, more scorpion remains were found in the nearby Levana Cave.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Levy, 2007 "The first troglobite scorpion from Israel and a new chactoid family (Arachnida: Scorpiones)" [1]
- ^ a b Victor Fet, Michael E. Soleglad & Sergei L. Zonstein, 2011 "The genus Akrav Levy, 2007 (Scorpiones: Akravidae) revisited" [2]
- ^ "One year later, 'Noah's Ark' cave is no longer a safe haven". Haaretz. 19 July 2007. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
- ^ "The second record of a relict Akrav israchanani Levy, 2007 (Scorpiones: Akravidae) from Levana Cave, Israel" (PDF). Occasional Publications in Scorpiology.
 | This prehistoric scorpion-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |