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How does the scorpionEuscorpius flavicaudis (Deg.) manage to survive in Britain?

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Abstract

Field observations at Sheerness suggest thatE. flavicaudis is night-active: it fluoresces strongly in ultra-violet light. Aktograph experiments demonstrated a marked circadian rhythm of noctural locomotory activity whose free-running period in constant light is 24.7 h. In darkness, the free-running period is variable. The rate of transpiration is not unduly low compared with that of other scorpions, as might have been expected wereE. flavicaudis day-active. It is argued that the survival of this species in southern England does not involve any special physiological adjustments since most if not all species of scorpions are able to withstand freezing temperatures.

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Cloudsley-Thompson, J.L., Constantinou, C. How does the scorpionEuscorpius flavicaudis (Deg.) manage to survive in Britain?. Int J Biometeorol 27, 87–92 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185737

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