Identifying Common Heterometrus

G. Carnell

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Hi

nothing special in this post, im just bumping myself so that i dont forget.

hopefully will start tonight.

Species:
Heterometrus spinifer
Heterometrus laoticus
Heterometrus petersii
Heterometrus cyaneus
Heterometrus longimanus
Heterometrus fulvipes (sometimes labeled H.xanthopus)

--
Selected Literature:
Kovarick 2005
Couzijn 1981
 

G. Carnell

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Ok

firstly, here is the only piece of literature which most of you guys can access:


Revision of Heterometrus, Kovarik:
http://www.science.marshall.edu/fet/euscorpius/p2004_15.pdf



I will use the knowledge in this article, and couple it with what ive read/got from Couzijn, which was far more graphic when it comes to identification.


Heterometrus spinifer:

10-13.5cm long
Body is shiny black, with granules all over it.
unique granulation pattern found on the prosoma ("head")



Telson can be black/brown or red or yellow in adults, in juveniles, it is white, and darkens progressivly at later moults.

there is no sexual dimorphism in this species, this means that male and female claws will be of the same general length, and body shapes would be similar, though often males have thicker claws, and a slightly longer tail (in my experience)

A picture of a typical Heterometrus spinifer can be seen here:
www.chaerilus.co.uk/21.jpg

Note well: shiny black colour, red telson, spiky granules on the pedipalps.

Another addition to post about H.spinifer, here is an example of the granulation pattern:

 
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CaptainChaos

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Really nice, thank you for that! I wish i had access to more Revisions/information like that of different species. (If any of you have such, pm or email would be nice ;) )
 
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Scorpfanatic

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nice geroge keep it coming my frined, im learning more again! and it wat need to know,.. heheespacilly cant wait for the longimanus :p~ guess you miss out swammis??? hehehe STICKYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Vixvy

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these answers my questions! tnxs mr.g! wooooh!
 

EAD063

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so no granulation on head would to laoticus correct?
 

G. Carnell

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Heterometrus laoticus:

8-10cm long
Body is matt black, nearly totally smooth.
ONLY Heterometrus sp. to have no granulation on the prosoma ("head")



Telson is brown/black, though it is white in the first two instars (generally)

there is no sexual dimorphism in this species, this means that male and female claws will be of the same general length, and body shapes would be similar, though often males have thicker claws, and more pointy granulation on the interior surface of the claws. (IME)

NB: Different characteristics from different countries, so the Vietnamese morph looks slightly different to the Thai or Lao morphs.

A picture of a typical Heterometrus laoticus can be seen here:
www.chaerilus.co.uk/lao1.jpg

Note well: matt black colour, black telson, low granules on the pedipalps.

Locality: Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam
 
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G. Carnell

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Heterometrus petersii:

8-10cm long
Body is matt black, granulated
Like a laoticus, but with granulation.



Telson is brown/black, though it is white in the first two instars (generally)

Male is supposed to have a more "pronounced tooth" on the movable finger


See Kovarick article (post 2) for a picture, unless someone can donate me one ;)

Note well: see laoticus, but with granules all over body and patches on prosoma ("head")

Locality: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos
 

SimplengGarapal

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Hi George,

Need help in ID-ing this Heterometrus spp. It was labeled as laoticus I'm not sure though if its correct.







 

kahoy

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Hi George,

Need help in ID-ing this Heterometrus spp. It was labeled as laoticus I'm not sure though if its correct.

ill go with spinifer, granulation around the eyes, the bumpy face. my guess is spinifer.
 

G. Carnell

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yea as you can see, the granulation patterns match with H.spinifer, as well as general morphology.

ill post some pics of H.longimanus granulation soon
 

G. Carnell

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Heterometrus longimanus:

8-12cm long
Body is shiny black, granulated
Like a spinifer. but males have very long claws.
---
Couzijn drawings: just examples of granulation patterns..
H.longimanus longimanus


H.longimanus humilis


---
Telson is yellow/red, though it is white in the first two instars (generally)

Male has very long claws (see Koravik PDF) i only have supposed females to show

NOTE: Subspecies are now void due to Kovarik, so this is just an example of other ways to differentiate, seeing the patterns differ to those of H.spinifer, these two sp are commonly mixed up

there are so many subspecies according to couzijn.. its best to stick to the Kovarik principle

Supposedly the H.longimanus borneensis, female, due to lack of elongated claws.


see Korvarik article for pic of male

Locality: Indonesia, Borneo, Singapore, Malaysia?
 
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Alakdan

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Hi George!

Now that this is discussed thoroughly, I am beginning to doubt my species ID. I have 3 different species of Heterometrus. I will post pics of the carapace, but I will not label them with what I think they are so as not to pre-condition your ID. I need your inputs. Thanks!

Specimen A


Specimen B



Specimen C

 

G. Carnell

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hey

i cant see the granulation too well, and overall pics would be nice
but from these pics:
A) H.spinifer
B) H.laoticus/H.petersii (definately from Indochina)
C) H.spinifer/H.longimanus (probably subadult spinifer)


ive added pics to the posts above, check them out ;)
 

Alakdan

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I'll try to post the overall pics top and side view tomorrow.

You're answers are actually same as what I thought they would be.

1. H. spinifer
2. H. laoticus (I would be happier if it was petersii)
3. H. longimanus borneensis (It actually looks very much like yours.)
 

G. Carnell

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you dont have any males by any chance?

i have 2 adult females now, and 2 subadults, im praying for a male :(
 

Alakdan

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you dont have any males by any chance?

i have 2 adult females now, and 2 subadults, im praying for a male :(
You mean for longimanus borneensis? I'll do the pectine count later, it's still a sub adult 6 instar.
 
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