Parabuthus transvaalicus

Parabuthus transvaalicus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Buthidae
Genus: Parabuthus
Species: P. transvaalicus
Binomial name
Parabuthus transvaalicus
Purcell, 1899

Parabuthus transvaalicus (known as the Transvaal thick-tailed scorpion or dark scorpion) is a species of venomous scorpion from dry parts of southern Africa.[1]

Description

Parabuthus transvaalicus grows to a length of 90–110 millimetres (3.5–4.3 in), and is dark brown or black in colour.[2] Its pincers are thin, but its tail is thickened, with the sting segment being as wide as the rest of the tail.[2] It is nocturnal, resting in a shallow burrow under rocks during the day.[2] It resembles its congener P. villosus, which is less strictly nocturnal, hairier and has a more westerly distribution.[2]

Distribution

Parabuthus transvaalicus is found in deserts, scrublands and semi-arid regions of Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa.[3]

Sting

Parabuthus transvaalicus is a dangerous scorpion, which can both sting and spray its kurtoxin venom.[2] The first droplet of venom differs from the rest, and is referred to as "pre-venom".[4]

References

  1. ↑ Norman Larsen. "Parabuthus transvaalicus (Transvaal thick-tailed scorpion)". Biodiversity Explorer. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Vincent Carruthers (2005). "Spiders and other arachnids". The Wildlife of Southern Africa: a Field Guide to the Animals and Plants of the Region. Struik. pp. 14–27. ISBN 978-1-86872-451-2.
  3. ↑ Jan Ove Rein (2010). "Parabuthus transvaalicus (Purcell, 1899)". The Scorpion Files. Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  4. ↑ Bora Inceoglu, Jozsef Lango, Jie Jing, Lili Chen, Fuat Doymaz, Isaac N. Pessah & Bruce D. Hammock (2003). "One scorpion, two venoms: prevenom of Parabuthus transvaalicus acts as an alternative type of venom with distinct mechanism of action". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 100 (3): 922–927. Bibcode:2003PNAS..100..922I. doi:10.1073/pnas.242735499. PMC 298702Freely accessible. PMID 12552107.
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