''Cercophonius michaelseni'' is a species of
scorpion
Scorpions are predatory arachnids of the order Scorpiones. They have eight legs, and are easily recognized by a pair of grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back and always endi ...
in the
Bothriuridae
The Bothriuridae are a family of scorpions, comprising 151 species in 16 genera.
The family has representatives in temperate and subtropical habitats from four continents: South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. One genus ('' Cercophonius'') ...
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
. It occurs in
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to ...
, and was first described in 1908 by German
naturalist Karl Kraepelin
Karl Matthias Friedrich Magnus Kraepelin (; ; 14 December 1848 – 28 June 1915) was a German naturalist who specialised in the study of scorpions, centipedes, spiders and solfugids, and was noted for his monograph ''Scorpiones und Pedipalpi'' (Be ...
. The
specific epithet
In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...
''michaelseni'' honours German
zoologist
Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and ...
Wilhelm Michaelsen
Johann Wilhelm Michaelsen (9 October 1860, Hamburg - 18 February 1937) was a German zoologist who was a world authority on the Oligochaeta which includes the earthworms. He named and described more than a thousand new species.
Michaelsen was ...
.
References
michaelseni
Scorpions of Australia
Fauna of Western Australia
Animals described in 1908
Taxa named by Karl Kraepelin
Endemic fauna of Australia
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