Scorpion-like creature — named for NBA star Kawhi Leonard — discovered as new species

Already celebrated as a basketball star, Kawhi Leonard is now receiving international recognition — from a group of researchers in South Korea.

The basketball fans were in the Sobaek Mountains of South Korea when they dug through moist leaf litter scattered on the ground, according to an April 2 study published in the journal Evolutionary Systematics.

There, two red claw-like appendages stuck out from the foliage, followed by a multi-legged body, the researchers said.

At first, the creature appeared to be a scorpion. It had all the signs: large pinchers, legs down the sides of its thorax and what appeared to be a segmented body, according to the study.

But under further inspection, the researchers noticed that the critter was missing the identifiable stinger that delivers a scorpion’s venom.

The arachnid was an imposter.

Pseudoscorpions are a “neglected” family of invertebrates, the researchers said, and have the physical appearance of scorpions but remain completely harmless. The one living at the base of Mt. Sobaek was a completely new species.

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The species has reddish-brown claws and front of its body, while the rest of the creature is a tan or lightish brown color, according to the study.

It stands out from other known pseudoscorpions because of its larger size and ratio of foot and body size, the researchers said.

The most notable aspect of the arachnid, however, is the far reach between one clawed leg and another, far exceeding the length of the body.

Who else has incredibly long limbs? Basketball players.

“This species is named in honor of the National Basketball Association player Kawhi Leonard who has the longest wingspan in the American National Basketball Association,” the researchers said.

While Leonard no longer holds that title (the 7 foot, 4 inch tall Victor Wembanyama has the longest wingspan of 2023-2024 season players), his lengthy arms are still stuck in the minds of the researchers.

The species will now forever be known as Pararoncus leonardi.

Leonard wasn’t the only player honored by sharing a name with a pseudoscorpion.

A second new species, a slightly lighter color and different size, was found on a different mountain but also in fallen leaves.

“This species is named after the former Korean Basketball League player Tae Young Moon who has the longest wingspan ratio in the Korean basketball league,” the researchers said.

The second species, named Pararoncus taeyoungi, joins the other and many more that live along the Pacific coast, according to the study, at least seven of which are found in Japan.

Both species were found along the eastern mountain ranges of South Korea, west of the Sea of Japan.

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