FOSSILIA - Reports in Palaeontology

An exceptionally well-preserved scorpion from the Besano Formation (Monte San Giorgio, Middle Triassic, Southern Alps): preliminary study

 

Marco Viaretti¹, Gabriele Bindellini¹ & Cristiano Dal Sasso²

¹ Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra “A. Desio”, via Mangiagalli 34, Milan, Italy;
² Museo di Storia Naturale di Milano, Sezione di Paleontologia dei Vertebrati, Milan, Italy. 

M. Viaretti: marco.viaretti@studenti.unimi.it;  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1539-8157

G. Bindellini: gabriele.bindellini@unimi.it;  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6359-3067  

C. Dal Sasso: cristiano.dalsasso@comune.milano.it; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6791-6601

 

How to cite: Viaretti et al. (2020). An exceptionally well-preserved scorpion from the Besano Formation (Monte San Giorgio, Middle Triassic, Southern Alps): preliminary study. Fossilia, Volume 2020: 53-55. https://doi.org/10.32774/FosRepPal.2020.0614

Bullet-Points Abstract
  • Specimen BES SC 1973 represents the first record of an arachnid from the Besano Formation.
  • Taphonomy and limb position indicate that the fossil is a scorpion carcass. 
  • Preservation is exceptional, structures such as trichobothria and median eyes are visible.
  • The fossil was examined through stereomicroscopy under natural and UV light, and through SEM.
  • A taxonomic study is currently undergoing.

Keywords: Arachnida; Scorpiones; Triassic; Besano Formation; Monte San Giorgio.

 
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Fig. 1. Specimen Bes SC 1973, an indeterminate scorpion from the Middle Triassic of Monte San Giorgio. A. Interpretative drawing. B. Classic photo. C. UV photo. D. Collage of SEM images taken in BSE mode. Scale bar = 2 cm.

Cited References

  • Bindellini G., Balini M., Teruzzi G. & Dal Sasso C. (2019). Ammonoid and Daonella zonation of the Sasso Caldo quarry (Besano Formation, Middle Triassic). Strati 2019, 3rd International Congress on Stratigraphy. ST2.4 Ammonoids in stratigraphy: Abstract book, p.87.
  • Dunlop J. A., Penney D., Tetlie O. E. & Anderson L. I. (2008). How many species of fossil arachnids are there? Journal of Arachnology, 36 (2): 267-272.
  • Dunlop J. A., Penney D. & Jekel D. (2019). A summary list of fossil spiders and their relatives in World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern, online at http://wsc.nmbe.ch, version 20.5, accessed on 08/10/2019.
  • Laurenço W. R. & Gall J.C. (2004). Fossil scorpions from the Buntsandstein (Early Triassic) of France. Comptes Rendus Palevol, 3 (5): 369-378.
  • McCoy V. E. & Brandt D. S. (2009). Scorpion taphonomy: criteria for distinguishing fossil scorpion molts and carcasses. Journal of Arachnology, 37 (3): 312-320.