ID help: did I just find H. arizonensis?

[many many legs]

Found it outside its burrow last night in ensenada, mexico. I've been seeing tons of tiny bark scorpions around here, but this one is much bigger and chunkier than them, maybe 4 inches. It also kicks around the sand in its enclosure, unlike my bark scorpions. Is it a desert hairy scorpion? That'd make my day

 

[Arthroverts]

It doesn't look like a Desert Hairy to me. Maybe an Anuroctonus sp., or Paruroctonus sp.? @NYAN, @ArachnoDrew, @RTTB, any ideas?

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[Dry Desert]

Found it outside its burrow last night in ensenada, mexico. I've been seeing tons of tiny bark scorpions around here, but this one is much bigger and chunkier than them, maybe 4 inches. It also kicks around the sand in its enclosure, unlike my bark scorpions. Is it a desert hairy scorpion? That'd make my day
View attachment 313726

If it's about 4 ins. and was found in Mexico it's probably Centruroides chiapanensis - toxic.

 

[RTTB]

Definitely not a Centruroides.. Not Hadrurus.

 

[AzJohn]

Maybe vaejovis.

 

[many many legs]

found in Mexico it's probably Centruroides chiapanensis

Mexico is pretty big tho. Those are found in central/south. I'm very far north-west in baja norte. There have been hairy scorpion sightings near here, but yeah idk. I went on a walk with a blacklight last night and saw maybe a dozen baja bark scorpions, all 1-2" long. Those are common and always run away to find cover. This guy was notably huge in comparison and was just outside its burrow. It dashed into its hole as I approached, something I've never seen a baja bark scorpion do. It was also waaaaayyy faster than a bark scorpion when I coaxed it out.

 

[many many legs]

Maybe vaejovis.

Interesting! I found a couple articles that could shed light. Scorpions of Mexico, with map. Vaejovis make up majority in mexico: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4728524/
And the other site is all about vaejovis species and where they have been sighted. "Baja" came up a lot when I searched: http://www.angelfire.com/tx4/scorpiones/vaejovis.html

 

[Arthroverts]

I agree with @RTTB, definitely not a Centruroides. 4 inches is pretty big for Vaejovis sp. as well

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[many many legs]

After some searching, I think it may be vaejovis confusus. Though there are a lot of vaejovis species that look really similar, these occur in northern mexico and look very, very similar to mine. Still up for debate tho. Second guess would be Vaejovis hirsuticauda (now called Kochius hirsuticauda), but its claws and colors are a bit off from what I have, so probably not.

 

[many many legs]

4 inches is pretty big for Vaejovis sp.

I took a look just now, I think I may have been excited and added an inch originally. Does look closer to 3 inches. and actually much darker top of body than photo lets on.

 

[neubii18]

Looks almost identical to the Paruroctonus species we have in So cal, although slightly a different color. I would bet Parurctonus.

 

[Mordax8393]

Not (para)vaejovis confusus based on claw shape/size. Not K. histricauda based on telson structure. Certainly not Hadrurus or Centruroides.

Almost certainly Paruroctonus sp., send me detailed pictures of: claw dentition and dorsal and ventral views of the tail and I can get it to species for you

 

[Smokehound714]

Paruroctonus sp.

 

[Dry Desert]

I agree with @RTTB, definitely not a Centruroides. 4 inches is pretty big for Vaejovis sp. as well

Thanks,

Arthroverts

@NYAN
@RTTB
As we now have a new size and a more accurate location will be able to ID better. Centruroides chiapanensis is the only one I know of that's 100 +mm ( 4ins. ) in Mexico.As it's only 3ins. now, maybe even less, whole different ball game.

 

[brandontmyers]

Probably Paruroctonus silvestrii. It is known from Ensenada.

 

[many many legs]

Paruroctonus silvestrii

wow, once again, you nailed it! That looks just like what I have. Anything I should know if I plan on keeping it? Thank you so much.

 

[many many legs]

Just want to update the thread with a pic I took of the scorp next to a 1" US quarter. So yes, I was maybe a little over enthusiastic about its size. To be fair though, the only other scorps around here are C. exilicauda, so this thing feels like a monster to me! Scorpion measurements are made from head to end of tail right? If so I'd guess its about 2.25"? I appreciate all the feedback so far. Thanks everyone

 

[Mordax8393]

P silvestrii is possible but not certain, there are a few more almost identical species out there.

 

[brandontmyers]

P silvestrii is possible but not certain, there are a few more almost identical species out there.

Very true. The only other species from the 'boreus' microgroup found in Baja is P. arnaudi which is only known from the Socorro Sand Dunes. The other species found in Baja Norte are going to be psammophiles and have a distinct yellow color. I believe that this would be the only one in the area with this coloration. This particular specimen could absolutely be something different, however based on location I do believe P. silvestrii is correct.

 

[many many legs]

I do believe P. silvestrii is correct

Yeah, it digs little "burrows" under the local rocks and wood I provided it, is very fast/skittish and was found in a rocky coastal scrubland. seems to fit the description. I agree that its coloration is really pretty based on what I've seen online. Are these communal at all? it's enclosure is def big enough for two.