Divergence and variability of genus Euscorpius in Europe

This Bachelor of Science thesis summarizes current knowledge about the species diversity and distribution of European scorpions of the genus Euscorpius. In this area it is the most species-rich genus of scorpions with significant additions to the total number of recognized species during the past decade from five species in 1999 to 17 species nowadays. This is primarily due to the use of molecular characters (especially the analysis of mitochondrial 16S RNA gene), allowing a better understanding of the variability of some morphological and morphometric characters. This work summarizes historical concepts of species variation and the use of the different types of characters in the genus Euscorpius. The distribution of the species currently recognized is described together with known factors that may affect it. The distribution of scorpions in the Czech Republic is included as a special chapter. Some species are suspected to have been accidentally introduced into new regions of Europe, of which the best example is E. tergestinus which has been introduced into Bohemia