can anyone identify this scorpion- it was found in a box of bananas. Is it dangerous? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...3&set=a.1501594154439.60059.1671777213&type=3
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Help identifying scorpion
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FatherOfScorpions
Arachnoknight
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Do you have a picture of the scorpion?
I’m trying to add one but not sure how.
I’m trying to add one but My internet isnt cooperating. Can you see it on the link. I will try tomorrow from somewhere else.
FatherOfScorpions
Arachnoknight
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Looks like its from the genus Centruroides. It might be a Caribbean dusky scorpion - Centruroides gracilis.
FatherOfScorpions
Arachnoknight
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The scorpion is venomous, but much less toxic than others of its genus. It mostly just depends on how a person reacts to the sting. (Just like some people are allergic to bee stings) It looks like centruroides gracilis to me, if so, its potency would depend the origin of the scorpion. Ones from south American have a very potent venom as opposed to ones from Florida which are said the have a mild venom. I have one, never been stung, but I hear its a very painful.
RTTB
Arachnoprince
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The Caribbean form is said to have a tad more potent venom than the US form. Not a 100% sure it's a C gracilis so be cautious regardless.
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Scarcer food sources in the Caribbean?
RTTB
Arachnoprince
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Scorpion venom is a curious thing. I think of some of the deadly Tityus and Centruroides that live in basically a jungle type habitat. One would think there is plenty of prey items. Yet their venom is quite potent. Interesting question and topic.
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I'd jump in on the C. gracilis boat. Once you start pulling from Central American populations the venom level goes up by a good margin. Still most likely wouldn't kill you, but it'd put a damper on your day/week. Definite bad news if you're allergic to it.
It could also be an arms race of sorts with prey items. These scorps would be found under bark or maybe under fallen logs, which limits prey types pretty significantly. I'd imagine commonly encountered prey items would be roaches and certain beetle groups. If they can't punch through the armor of a beetle, a roach would make an easy and convenient meal. However, roaches have evolved plenty of ways to not get eaten. Speed, excellent sensory structures and good reflexes. The scorps need to hit and they need to hit hard because they don't have the muscle to wrestle down a roach like most of the Scorpionidae (Heterometrus, Pandinus, etc.). A scrape of the stinger or stinging something big enough to escape could mean a lost prey item and expenditure of a physiologically costly resource (venom).
There was a paper that came out somewhat recently on scorps being able to adapt their venom based on predator harassment. I wonder if since the Central/South American versions are in a jungle habitat they're exposed to more predators, which has led to more toxic venom? Plenty of holes in that hypothesis I'm sure, with one issue being that even with the highly venomous Tityus stigmurus there's a significantly more venomous population somewhere in central Brazil (maybe? don't quote me on location).
It could also be an arms race of sorts with prey items. These scorps would be found under bark or maybe under fallen logs, which limits prey types pretty significantly. I'd imagine commonly encountered prey items would be roaches and certain beetle groups. If they can't punch through the armor of a beetle, a roach would make an easy and convenient meal. However, roaches have evolved plenty of ways to not get eaten. Speed, excellent sensory structures and good reflexes. The scorps need to hit and they need to hit hard because they don't have the muscle to wrestle down a roach like most of the Scorpionidae (Heterometrus, Pandinus, etc.). A scrape of the stinger or stinging something big enough to escape could mean a lost prey item and expenditure of a physiologically costly resource (venom).