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I posted this article on my Kansas forum (Eastern Kansas Arachnid Society or E.KS.A.S.) and thought i would post it here too for fun. its not meant to be all encompasing, and some of the statements are very generalized, but it is basically a quick overview of several common species for people who no absolutely nothing about scorpions so i tried to keep it simple and brief. BTW for those in the kansas area or those within close proximity in OK or MO feel free to visit the site at www.eksas.proboards.com we even have an interloping member of SCABIES on there, you naughty boy you lol. anyway enjoy:
for those who aren't that in to scorpions, unlike tarantulas, most scorpions dont have common names, and the ones that do have very similar names, so they are almost all useless, so we scorpion people use almost exclusively scientific names. here are some important ones with brief descriptions:
Pandinus spp. - this is a very well known genus that contains the beloved and world famous emperor scorpion (P. imperator), as well as the coveted red-claw emperor scorpion (P. cavimanus). this genus hails from Africa, and its members are all large (some of the world's largest), with large claws and a relatively weak venom and is very reluctant to sting. many are docile and easy to care for, and have long been considered the best for beginners
Heterometrus spp. - only slightly well less known and closely related to the emperors are the asian forest scorpions. like their african cousins these are large with powerful claws. their temper is slightly worse and while their sting is still not to be considered dangerous, it is described as being more painful than the emperor's, and they are more willing to use it than the emperors are. care is almost identical to the emperors, and to the untrained eye, the two can often look identical
Hadrurus arizonensis- one of the few common names that sticks in the hobby belongs to this species, better known as the giant desert hairy scorpion. found in the southwest US it is the largest north american scorpion. it is from the desert so likes things very dry, and is a deep burrower with the personality of a bulldozer. they can often be very defensive, and their venom is nonlethal, but very painful so handling this species is not reccomended. this species is very cannibalistic so should be kept alone
Vaejovis spp.- the smallest scorpions mentioned here so far, this genus has loads of species in the southern US and mexico. they are active desert dwellers, and some of them live in groups, while some are solitary. the best known species by hobbyists is the striped devil scorpion (V. spinigerus) though recently moved to a different genus, many people still know it by this name. what this scorpion lacks in size it makes up for in personality. due to their small size and skittish behavior handling is not advised
Centruroides spp.- known as the bark scorpions these are a very infamous group widespread throughout the Americas in both tropical and desert climates. Members of the buthid family, they are not reccomended for beginners, as they have been responsible for many deaths. the arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus) holds the title of most venomous scorpion in the US and while deaths nowdays are extremely rare and a healthy adult has little to fear, many pets and children visit the hospital from stings each year, although there has not been a human death from any US species since the 1960's. This genus varies in size, but many are rather small. they are active, communal, and love to climb. the striped bark scorpion (centruroides vittatus) is widespread throughout the US and is the only scorpion species found in Kansas. while its venom is usually considered to be much less severe than its southern cousin, it is still painful, and deserves respect as do all members of their family (the Buthidae family) which contains 99% of the species of scorpion considered to be dangerous to humans. If given proper respect and precautions, these can be a very rewarding group of scorpions that are fascinating to keep.
Androctonus spp.- this genus is commonly known as the fat-tailed scorpions. they are members of the Buthidae family from Africa and the Middle East, and are considered some of the most dangerous scorpions known to man. the Yellow fattail (A. australis) causes more deaths than almost any other single species of scorpion, and is considered to be one of the most deadly. the name androctonus is actually derived from latin and means "man killer". this genus is mostly found in the desert and digs shallow burrows under rocks and wood. they have very thick tails and are reasonably large for their family. not for beginners, all species have very potent venom
Parabuthus spp.- relatives of the fattails, these scorpions from africa are called thick-tails. Like their northern cousins, they too are in the Buthidae family, and have caused many deaths. They have very thick tails that are often covered in many fine hairs. they are the largest buthids, and can inject high ammounts of venom. the most commonly encountered species by hobbyists is usually the black spitting scorpion (P. transvaalicus) this large scorpion can spray venom from its tail up to three feet into the eyes of a predator with startling accuracy, though it rarely does so. Care is very simmilar to the Androctonus spp. scorpions, and though considered to be less toxic are still very dangerous and not reccomended for beginners.
Leiurus quinquestriatus- This average sized member of the buthid family ranges from north africa into the middle east, and has the most toxic venom of any scorpion. they are deadly, and are often called either the five-keeled golden scorpion or more commonly known as the deathstalker. they are a rather plain and generic looking scorpion with a slender tail and long slender claws. they inhabit deserts where they make shallow burrows or scrapes under rocks. they are incredibly fast and very defensive, not hesitating to sting at a moments notice and defensive to the point of almost being aggressive. this is about as dangerous as scorpion keeping gets, and you should NEVER reach into a tank with bare hands, always use forceps or tongs when doing matainence in this scorpions habitat. They are amazing scorpions but are definitely not for beginners.
That's all for now, but i may add more genera to the list as i see a need for it. these are some basic scorpions that you will commonly see in the hobby. in connection with this thread i am also opening up some pic threads in the scorpion pictures forum with members of several genus i have kept. enjoy,
John
for those who aren't that in to scorpions, unlike tarantulas, most scorpions dont have common names, and the ones that do have very similar names, so they are almost all useless, so we scorpion people use almost exclusively scientific names. here are some important ones with brief descriptions:
Pandinus spp. - this is a very well known genus that contains the beloved and world famous emperor scorpion (P. imperator), as well as the coveted red-claw emperor scorpion (P. cavimanus). this genus hails from Africa, and its members are all large (some of the world's largest), with large claws and a relatively weak venom and is very reluctant to sting. many are docile and easy to care for, and have long been considered the best for beginners
Heterometrus spp. - only slightly well less known and closely related to the emperors are the asian forest scorpions. like their african cousins these are large with powerful claws. their temper is slightly worse and while their sting is still not to be considered dangerous, it is described as being more painful than the emperor's, and they are more willing to use it than the emperors are. care is almost identical to the emperors, and to the untrained eye, the two can often look identical
Hadrurus arizonensis- one of the few common names that sticks in the hobby belongs to this species, better known as the giant desert hairy scorpion. found in the southwest US it is the largest north american scorpion. it is from the desert so likes things very dry, and is a deep burrower with the personality of a bulldozer. they can often be very defensive, and their venom is nonlethal, but very painful so handling this species is not reccomended. this species is very cannibalistic so should be kept alone
Vaejovis spp.- the smallest scorpions mentioned here so far, this genus has loads of species in the southern US and mexico. they are active desert dwellers, and some of them live in groups, while some are solitary. the best known species by hobbyists is the striped devil scorpion (V. spinigerus) though recently moved to a different genus, many people still know it by this name. what this scorpion lacks in size it makes up for in personality. due to their small size and skittish behavior handling is not advised
Centruroides spp.- known as the bark scorpions these are a very infamous group widespread throughout the Americas in both tropical and desert climates. Members of the buthid family, they are not reccomended for beginners, as they have been responsible for many deaths. the arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus) holds the title of most venomous scorpion in the US and while deaths nowdays are extremely rare and a healthy adult has little to fear, many pets and children visit the hospital from stings each year, although there has not been a human death from any US species since the 1960's. This genus varies in size, but many are rather small. they are active, communal, and love to climb. the striped bark scorpion (centruroides vittatus) is widespread throughout the US and is the only scorpion species found in Kansas. while its venom is usually considered to be much less severe than its southern cousin, it is still painful, and deserves respect as do all members of their family (the Buthidae family) which contains 99% of the species of scorpion considered to be dangerous to humans. If given proper respect and precautions, these can be a very rewarding group of scorpions that are fascinating to keep.
Androctonus spp.- this genus is commonly known as the fat-tailed scorpions. they are members of the Buthidae family from Africa and the Middle East, and are considered some of the most dangerous scorpions known to man. the Yellow fattail (A. australis) causes more deaths than almost any other single species of scorpion, and is considered to be one of the most deadly. the name androctonus is actually derived from latin and means "man killer". this genus is mostly found in the desert and digs shallow burrows under rocks and wood. they have very thick tails and are reasonably large for their family. not for beginners, all species have very potent venom
Parabuthus spp.- relatives of the fattails, these scorpions from africa are called thick-tails. Like their northern cousins, they too are in the Buthidae family, and have caused many deaths. They have very thick tails that are often covered in many fine hairs. they are the largest buthids, and can inject high ammounts of venom. the most commonly encountered species by hobbyists is usually the black spitting scorpion (P. transvaalicus) this large scorpion can spray venom from its tail up to three feet into the eyes of a predator with startling accuracy, though it rarely does so. Care is very simmilar to the Androctonus spp. scorpions, and though considered to be less toxic are still very dangerous and not reccomended for beginners.
Leiurus quinquestriatus- This average sized member of the buthid family ranges from north africa into the middle east, and has the most toxic venom of any scorpion. they are deadly, and are often called either the five-keeled golden scorpion or more commonly known as the deathstalker. they are a rather plain and generic looking scorpion with a slender tail and long slender claws. they inhabit deserts where they make shallow burrows or scrapes under rocks. they are incredibly fast and very defensive, not hesitating to sting at a moments notice and defensive to the point of almost being aggressive. this is about as dangerous as scorpion keeping gets, and you should NEVER reach into a tank with bare hands, always use forceps or tongs when doing matainence in this scorpions habitat. They are amazing scorpions but are definitely not for beginners.
That's all for now, but i may add more genera to the list as i see a need for it. these are some basic scorpions that you will commonly see in the hobby. in connection with this thread i am also opening up some pic threads in the scorpion pictures forum with members of several genus i have kept. enjoy,
John