Isopoda Photo stories Strange but true Fluorescent scorpions
Fluorescent scorpions

By Francesco Tomasinelli 

Scorpions shine in ultra-violet (UV) light. They are the only creature to do so. Researchers can find them in the dark UV light because they look like jewels when lit.
The mechanism is still not completely clear but involves beta-carboline molecules, studied because they could be useful in healing some eye diseases in humans. This adaptation can shield scorpion from noxious UV radiation typical of deserts.

A special thanks to Fabio Pupin and Emanuele Biggi for their precious help.

 

 

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29-06-2010 New pictures exhibition till 31-10-2010 at Jardin des Plantes des Paris, Museè d'Histoire Naturelle: Inventaires sans frontieres (with pictures by F. Tomasinelli, X. Desmer, P. Richaud)

07-05-2010 New pictures exhibition till 01-08-2010 at Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino: "Sette storie di biodiversità"

30-03-2010 New gallery on Animals living in Italian cities 

10-03-2010 New gallery on different jobs in Genova Port for Genoa Port Center

17-02-2010 Four new small photo stories in Strange but true section

16-01-2010 New reportage on Quirimbas National Park in Mozambico

05-12-2009 New exhibit at Natural Science Museum of Bergamo, Italy - Predatori del Microcosmo until 31-01-2010

12-09-2009 More invading species pictures added

01-06-2009 More orchid mantis pictures. New gallery "Shared places" about Genoa port, landscape and citizens.

02-04-2009 New photo story on entomophagy: Insect as food

20-03-2009 Updated Caves life gallery, a look at biospeleology.

About this site

Welcome to Isopoda.net, website of Italian biologist and science photographer Francesco Tomasinelli. My favourite subjects are neglected animals, like insects, arachnids and reptiles, but I work on many other nature topics, travel, events and general photography too.

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