Two new species of scorpions have been discovered in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park in the central province of Quang Binh. Dr. Pham Dinh Sac from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources and Dr. Wilson Lourenco from the National Museum of Natural History in Paris have just discovered a species of scorpions, scientifically named as “Vietbocap thienduongensis Lourenco & Pham”, or “bo cap thien duong” (Thien Duong scorpion), in Thien Duong Cave located in the park.
They announced their discovery in C.R.Biologies, no. 335, an international monthly magazine that covers all biological and medical research fields, earlier this year. In 2010, the two scientists also found another species of scorpions, named as “Vietbocap canhi Lourenco & Pham”, in Tien Son Cave, also located in the park. These two species of scorpions belong to the Pseudochactidae family. Only four species of scorpions of this family have been found in the world including Trogloghammousnanus in Laos, Pseudochatas in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and the two newly discovered species in Vietnam. Scientists have also discovered a new bird species and ten new species of plants in the park.
