ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Abstract The fine structure of the book lungs in 29 species representing ten monophyletic taxa of the Scor-piones (Arachnida) was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Scorpion lungs are not homogeneous across the group. Here we describe and score three sets of phylogenetically informative charac-ters: (1) the surface ornament of the lung lamellae, (2) the distal margins of the lamellae and (3) the fine structure of the spiracle margin. Provisional results suggest that reticulation on the surface of the lung lamellae is characteristic of the Buthidae. By contrast, non-buthid scorpions maintain the air space between adjacent lamellae using projecting trabeculae. Typically they are simple struts, but the trabeculae are distally branched in all investigated Scorpionidae, plus at least one species belonging to the Liochelidae. Simple thorns on the lamellar margins probably represent the plesio-morphic condition, while more complex, branched, arcuate morphologies appear to be homoplastic, occur-ring sporadically in numerous scorpion sub-groups. The tightly packed, hexagonal pillars around the posterior margin of the spiracle support a close relationship be-tween Scorpionidae and Liochelidae, to the exclusion of the Urodacidae