ID help. Scorpion found in Puerto Rico.

[Janisse]

Saludos!
I've been lurking this board for quite some time but it wasn't until now that I decided to sign up. I was wondering if someone could help me with some identification here? It was found in a very humid area with lots of vegetation in Puerto Rico. I almost step on it because it was in my room. I've been doing some research but I just can't identify this species. I'm not new to arachnids (I own a tarantula), but I'm new to scorpions.

Is it safe to keep as a pet? Also, is this perhaps a 2.instar? Thanks in advance!

 

[G. Carnell]

Looks like some kind of Rhopalurus species!

As a scorpion from the Buthidae family, avoid being stung! Other than that I've no experience with Rhopalurus species
not sure how hard they are to keep, etc! Hopefully someone can chime in

 

[darkness975]

a Rhopalurus species is my guess too.

 

[pannaking22]

Agreed on Rhopalurus. As for care, give them a nice vertical surface and some small hides on the ground they can use. I keep the humidity reasonably high in mine, but they tend to be very hardy, so they can take some dryness. If you found it in a very humid area, I would just try to replicate the conditions as best you can. Looks a little large for a 2i, but I can't guess to what instar it is.

 

[14pokies]

Im virtually clueless about scorps so i can't help much but that is really cool looking!

 

[The Snark]

I'm guessing Tityus juliorum, Buthidae, aka thick tail scorp. Common in Puerto Rico.
Safe to keep as a pet. Some Buthidae pack a wallop, toxin wise. Internal organ failure stuff. Not really a starter scorp.

PS Welcome to Ab!

 

[Janisse]

Looks like some kind of Rhopalurus species!

As a scorpion from the Buthidae family, avoid being stung! Other than that I've no experience with Rhopalurus species
not sure how hard they are to keep, etc! Hopefully someone can chime in

I see, thanks!
And okay, I wasn't planning on handling it anyway

 

[Janisse]

Agreed on Rhopalurus. As for care, give them a nice vertical surface and some small hides on the ground they can use. I keep the humidity reasonably high in mine, but they tend to be very hardy, so they can take some dryness. If you found it in a very humid area, I would just try to replicate the conditions as best you can. Looks a little large for a 2i, but I can't guess to what instar it is.

Okay, got it. Very useful, thanks!

 

[Janisse]

I'm guessing Tityus juliorum, Buthidae, aka thick tail scorp. Common in Puerto Rico.
Safe to keep as a pet. Some Buthidae pack a wallop, toxin wise. Internal organ failure stuff. Not really a starter scorp.

PS Welcome to Ab!

Hmm they kinda look like the species mentioned above. Scorpions are so hard to ID!
Well, thanks for the info!

PS Gracias!

 

[The Snark]

Have a look here: http://alfredocolon.zenfolio.com/p574714888
De nada.

 

[2nscorpx]

There is an easy way to distinguish between Rhopalurus or Tityus in this case: if the scorpion has a subaculear turbicle (it appears like an sharp, extra protrusion above the aculeus, or stinger).

 

[HomoPortoricens]

jannisse, la especie que tienes ahi es Tityus Riverai...llevo tiempo tratando de encotrar esta especie en Puerto rico. por casualidad vives cerca del yunque o por utuado, porque ahi es que usualmente viven... the species in the picture is Tityus Riverai. Im a veteran in scorpion and invertebrate hunting in Puerto rico and additional to that I spoken myself several times with
Jorge Santiago Blay in the past many years ago before I joined the army. Just thought I should translate here before somebody goes postal over me posting something completely in Spanish. Just saying...