Scorpions Flashcards
What are the main characteristics of Scorpionidae scorpions?
Large, powerful pincers (prey capture); Thin tail; Mild venom
What is the lifespan of a scorpion?
Between 2 and 10 years
What are pedipalps and give 4 uses of them by scorpions?
Specialised appendages (palps) that end in a “pincer”. Used to grasp objects;Courtship;Defence;Prey capture
What scorpion is this?
Parabuthus villosus
What scorpion is this?
Parabuthus transvaalicus
What are 3 purposes of a scorpion sting?
Prey capture; Self defence; Mating (hadogenes pacifies female)
Are male or female scorpions generally bigger?
Females
What is the most venomous scorpion genus? Which 2 species are regarded as the most venomous within the genus?
Parabuthas granulatus and Parabuthus transvaalicus (“Hairy Thick-tailed Scorpion”)
What is the gestation period of scorpions?
Between 2 and 18 months!
Do scorpions give birth to live young?
All species give birth to live young
What scorpion is this?
Opistacanthus asper
What are the 2 main scorpion families? What are the other, less common, families?
Scorpionidae & Buthidae; Bothuridae Ischnuridae Liochelidae (Hadogenes spp.)
What type of lungs do scorpions have and how do they work?
They have 4 pairs of booklungs. The book lungs function when the arachnid moves, which pushes air in and out of the arachnid body. There are slits on the belly of the arachnid that allow air to enter (and exit) the book lungs. Because there are several thin membranes, there is a lot of surface area for air exchange to occur
What scorpion is this?
Cheloctonus jonesii
Name 6 different types of arachnids
Spiders;Scorpions;Solifuges;Ticks;Mites;Tailless Whip-Scorpions
Describe the courtship practices of scorpions
Courtship: “Mating Dance”: Male grasps female (using his pedipalps to grasp hers);Seeks out a suitable area to deposit spermatophore (using his pectines);Drags female over it (positioning her epigynum over the spot where he has deposited his spermatophore);In certain species the male may sting the female in order to pacify her (Only observed in Hadogenes spp.)
What are pectines?
“Pectines” are comb-like structures on the underside of scorpions. Sensory appendages used to detect temperature and humidity, and to feel the substrate. Also believed to be used to detect pheromone trails left by female scorpions.
Describe how scorpions care for their young
The female will carry the young on her back
What effect does submerging a scorpion in water have?
Some scorpions can be totally submerged in water for more than 48 hours without any ill-effects
What do scorpions eat?
Scorpions are carnivorous. They eat other arthropods and small vertebrates – millipedes form major proportion of diet of certain species (look out for millipede “rings” indicating presence of scorpions)
What are the difference between Katoikogenic and Apoikogenic reprductive patterns in scorpions?
Katoikogenic = placental attachment (similar to mammals). Viviparous embryonic development (eg. Hadogenes); Apoikogenic = eggs incubated internally. Ovoviviparous embryonic development (eg. Parabuthus, Uroplectes)
Can scorpions “spray” their venom?
Yes some species within the Buthidae family can spray their venom e.g. Parabuthus transvaalicus
What type of venom do scorpion species in Southern Africa possess?
All species possess neurotoxic venom
What are the main characteristics of Buthidae scorpions?
Small (usually), weak pincers: Those of males are more robust than females; Thick, strong tail (prey capture by means of potent venom injection, rather than subduing via means of pedipalps); Powerful venom
What are the 2 main body parts of Arachnids?
Cephalothorax and abdomen
What is the biggest Buthidae species in the world and where is it found?
Parabuthus villosus, is a species of scorpion from southern Africa, where it ranges from the Northern Cape to Namibia. It is the largest species of the Buthidae, measuring up to 18 cm,[1] and its diet may include lizards and mice.
How many eggs do Southern African scorpion species usually lay?
None as they give birth to live young
