Black fat–tailed scorpion | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Scorpiones |
Family: | Buthidae |
Genus: | Androctonus |
Species: | A. bicolor
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Binomial name | |
Androctonus bicolor (
Ehrenberg, 1828)
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Androctonus bicolor, the black fat-tailed scorpion, is a scorpion species of the family Buthidae. It is black in color and can grow up to 8 cm. [1] Black fat-tailed scorpions come from the family Buthidae, which is the largest of the scorpion family. [2] They can be identified by their hefty physique. [3] They tend to move very fast, and are of an aggressive nature. [3] Black fat–tailed scorpions can live for up to 5 years. [3] Adults can reach up to 40-60 millimeters, 80 millimeters being the maximum. [4] These scorpions typically possess black and brown coloration. [5] These scorpions enjoy making scrapes with wood and rocks, [3] and are nocturnal, thus they hide in crevices or certain objects during the day. [4] They stay in shade to retain moisture (that they obtain from prey) in their bodies, as they are susceptible to losing moisture due to their environmental preference. [6]
Androctonus is widespread in North and West Africa, the Middle East, but the wider family tolerates a wider range of habitats. [2] This relates to the fact that black fat-tailed scorpions are rather efficient when temperatures range from 29 °C-35 °C, as this temperature allows for productive growth. [3] Black fat–tailed scorpions are normally found in arid or semi-arid areas as well as margins of desert areas, typically areas with sandy soil. [4] They generally prefer warm and dry areas. [6]
The black fat-tailed scorpion belongs to the genus Androctonus, which can be translated into "man-killer". [7] The species name is bicolor which is translated into having two-colors, [8] which could be referring to their brown-black coloration. [5] Scorpions are under the class Arachnida, because they are arachnids that have eight legs. [6]
Scorpions can eat many kinds of insects, spiders, lizards, small mammals such as mice, or even other scorpions. [9] Scorpions are able to go months without consuming food. [9] Prey is captured and crushed by its pincers, while their stingers are used to inject venom into their prey. [9] This paralyzes the prey, causing immobility and allowing the scorpion to consume it with ease. [9] Scorpions use their chelicerae (small claw-like structures attached to their mouths) to pull small parts off their prey, this is simple for them as chelicerae are quite sharp. [9] Scorpions are only able to ingest liquids, thus their chelicerae help them dispose of solid parts that cannot be consumed. [9]
Black fat–tailed scorpions use neurotoxic venom, which is fast acting and can be absorbed very quickly, because of the small molecular weight of the proteins that make up the venom. [10] These neurotoxins act on the central nervous system, causing paralysis in the nerves that are responsible for respiration, which ultimately causes death by respiratory failure. [10] The neurotoxins may also cause widespread neuronal excitation, symptoms of which can include pain, sweating, salivation, and tearing. [11] Severe envenomation is likely, as the rate of envenoming is 10-20%, making it potentially lethal. [5] Victims are likely to feel progressively weaker after envenoming. [10] Envenoming can result in death, which can occur between 5 and 15 hours, but it is also possible for death to occur within one hour. [10] Examples of common symptoms that occur after a sting are: drowsiness, drooping eyelids, paralysis of neck muscles, loss of muscle coordination, and abdominal pain. [10] A monovalent antivenom (an antivenom that heals stings of specific species [12]) called Anti-scorpionique is available to treat stings from a black fat-tailed scorpion. [5]