A new Mesozoic scorpion from the Besano Formation (Middle Triassic, Monte San Giorgio UNESCO WHL), Italy

Researchers have identified and named Protobuthus ziliolii, the first Mesozoic scorpion from Italy, discovered in the Besano Formation of Monte San Giorgio, a UNESCO World Heritage Locality (WHL). This fossil, analyzed using optical, UV, and SEM microscopy, provides critical insights into the species' morphology and confirms its assignment to the family Protobuthidae. The discovery marks the first arachnid reported from the Besano Formation and the Mesozoic of Italy, reinforcing previous hypotheses about the nearshore depositional environment of this geological unit.

Viaretti, M., Bindellini, G., & Dal Sasso, C. (2023). A new Mesozoic scorpion from the Besano Formation (Middle Triassic, Monte San Giorgio UNESCO WHL), Italy. PalZ, 97(3), 505–517. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-023-00659-5