Scorpions

Question 1

What are the main characteristics of Scorpionidae scorpions?

Answer 1

Large, powerful pincers (prey capture); Thin tail; Mild venom

Question 2

What is the lifespan of a scorpion?

Answer 2

Between 2 and 10 years

Question 3

What are pedipalps and give 4 uses of them by scorpions?

Answer 3

Specialised appendages (palps) that end in a “pincer”. Used to grasp objects;Courtship;Defence;Prey capture

Question 4

What scorpion is this?

Answer 4

Parabuthus villosus

Question 5

What scorpion is this?

Answer 5

Parabuthus transvaalicus

Question 6

What are 3 purposes of a scorpion sting?

Answer 6

Prey capture; Self defence; Mating (hadogenes pacifies female)

Question 7

Are male or female scorpions generally bigger?

Answer 7

Females

Question 8

What is the most venomous scorpion genus? Which 2 species are regarded as the most venomous within the genus?

Answer 8

Parabuthas granulatus and Parabuthus transvaalicus (“Hairy Thick-tailed Scorpion”)

Question 9

What is the gestation period of scorpions?

Answer 9

Between 2 and 18 months!

Question 10

Do scorpions give birth to live young?

Answer 10

All species give birth to live young

Question 11

What scorpion is this?

Answer 11

Opistacanthus asper

Question 12

What are the 2 main scorpion families? What are the other, less common, families?

Answer 12

Scorpionidae & Buthidae; Bothuridae Ischnuridae Liochelidae (Hadogenes spp.)

Question 13

What type of lungs do scorpions have and how do they work?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What scorpion is this?

Answer 14

Cheloctonus jonesii

Question 15

Name 6 different types of arachnids

Answer 15

Spiders;Scorpions;Solifuges;Ticks;Mites;Tailless Whip-Scorpions

Question 16

Describe the courtship practices of scorpions

Answer 16

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.)

Question 17

What are pectines?

Answer 17

“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.

Question 18

Describe how scorpions care for their young

Answer 18

The female will carry the young on her back

Question 19

What effect does submerging a scorpion in water have?

Answer 19

Some scorpions can be totally submerged in water for more than 48 hours without any ill-effects

Question 20

What do scorpions eat?

Answer 20

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)

Question 21

What are the difference between Katoikogenic and Apoikogenic reprductive patterns in scorpions?

Answer 21

Katoikogenic = placental attachment (similar to mammals). Viviparous embryonic development (eg. Hadogenes); Apoikogenic = eggs incubated internally. Ovoviviparous embryonic development (eg. Parabuthus, Uroplectes)

Question 22

Can scorpions “spray” their venom?

Answer 22

Yes some species within the Buthidae family can spray their venom e.g. Parabuthus transvaalicus

Question 23

What type of venom do scorpion species in Southern Africa possess?

Answer 23

All species possess neurotoxic venom

Question 24

What are the main characteristics of Buthidae scorpions?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

What are the 2 main body parts of Arachnids?

Answer 25

Cephalothorax and abdomen

Question 26

What is the biggest Buthidae species in the world and where is it found?

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

How many eggs do Southern African scorpion species usually lay?

Answer 27

None as they give birth to live young