A Darwin Core dataset of scorpions (Arachnida, Scorpiones) from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) Collections

Abstract

This data paper details the publication of a dataset derived from the scorpion (Order Scorpiones C.L. Koch, 1850) collections preserved at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), Brussels. The dataset includes all 3,652 specimens mostly identified to genus or species level during a recent re-evaluation. To maximise accessibility and interoperability, the entire dataset was fully standardised using the Darwin Core (DwC) standard and published as open data. The published dataset comprises a significant collection of records, encompassing eleven families, 56 genera and 117 species of scorpions. Geographically, the specimens originate from a wide range of locations, in 59 countries. The records within this dataset span a substantial chronological period, with collection dates ranging from 1872 to 2023. Most of the specimens were collected during expeditions led by researchers of RBINS. The mobilisation and standardisation of this rich historical collection provide a valuable resource for global biodiversity informatics, supporting crucial research in taxonomy, ecology and biogeography of the order Scorpiones.