Arabian fat-tailed scorpion

Arabian fat-tailed scorpion
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Buthidae
Genus: Androctonus
Species: A. crassicauda
Binomial name
Androctonus crassicauda
(Olivier, 1807)

The Arabian fat-tailed scorpion (Androctonus crassicauda) is a species of dangerous scorpion usually found in North Africa and the Middle East.

Description

A. crassicauda is a generalist desert species,[1] an Old World scorpion.[2] Adults can vary in colour from a light brown to reddish to blackish-brown, to black. They can grow to over 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in length.[1][3]

Distribution

This species is found mainly in the Palaearctic region. It is commonly found in such countries as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey,[4] and in north African nations.[5][6][1]

Habitat

A. crassicauda lives in the ruins of old, neglected structures,[1] and was considered a major hazard for troops during the whole Persian Gulf conflict, throughout the area of the war.[3]

Antivenom

Antivenom produced by this species has been used in Turkey to treat all scorpion stings since 1942.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Euscorpius" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  2. 1 2 "Dear Editor" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  3. 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  4. "Euscorpius" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  5. "WRBU Scorpion Identification". Wrbu.si.edu. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  6. http://insects.tamu.edu/research/collection/hallan/acari/Buthidae.txt
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