An Aussie Scorpion you may not have seen before

[Mark Newton]

This unusual Australian species called Australobuthus xerolimniorum forages on open inland dry salt lakes in South Australia's arid desert areas. Only a small scorpion to about 45mm, but a very interesting one. It is a monotypic genus with some unusual characteristics. Almost completely lacks pigment, has very large median eyes, a relatively small vesicle and quite a hairy metasoma. It is a very active hunter, not stopping its search until a prey item is found. It spends the day under shaded debris along the shorelines of the lakes it forages. These guys really motor, the legs are literally a blur when they run, I guess beacuse of the large distances they cover when looking for prey, they have evolved to move rapidly.

closeup: now to tuck in

 

[moose35]

you ain't kidding....its got HUGE eyes. awesome little scorp. great write -up and awesome pics.



moose

 

[cacoseraph]

nice piece

weird little scorpion

 

[Trexer]

Very interesting and nice scorp

 

[sick4x4]

are those really eyes or just a ploy to distract predators??? i see set of eyes lower down..nice scorp though...

 

[Xaranx]

All scorpions have multiple eyes, a pair on top and multiple(2-6?) along the front of the prosoma. They are unusually visible because of the low pigmentation. Nice pics too.

 

[sick4x4]

wow, huge an very visible....

 

[ReptileMan27]

Very cool scorp and great pics

 

[brandontmyers]

Mark, I know I have seen this species before. Mainly because it is my background thanks to you. haha

 

[Choobaine]

Absolutely incredible photographs!
Is it just me or does that species have massive pectines?

I might have seen wrong, gorgeous little beast!

 

[Mark Newton]

Absolutely incredible photographs!
Is it just me or does that species have massive pectines?

I might have seen wrong, gorgeous little beast!

Good point....yes, it has the longest pectines of all known Australian scorpions, probably as a result of foraging on such a uniform terrain.

 

[mkieff]

Nice POST. What type of camera did you use to get the pictures? Did you use a macro lens, or just get fairly close?

 

[Mark Newton]

Nice POST. What type of camera did you use to get the pictures? Did you use a macro lens, or just get fairly close?

Thanks....I use a digital SLR, Nikon D50 and an old (20+ yrs) manual macro (1:1) lens and a large Metz 45CT4 flash gun. I take a lot of photos inside white icecream containers that act as mini studois, bouncing the light around for good shadow fill.

 

[~Abyss~]

wow almost alien looking. Looks great. And I noticed the pectines too.
Eddy