Biology:Cercophonius squama
| Cercophonius squama | |
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| Order: | Scorpiones
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| Species: | C. squama
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| Binomial name | |
| Cercophonius squama (Gervais, 1844)
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Cercophonius squama, commonly known as the forest scorpion or wood scorpion, is a scorpion native to southeastern Australia . It is typically around 25–40 mm (0.98–1.57 in) long.[1] Its colour consists of different shades of brown.
Description
The body is creamy yellow to orange brown with dark brown variegations.[2] The legs are yellow with some dark brown pigment.[2]
Distribution and habitat
C. squama is found in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT and Tasmania. It is the only scorpion found in Tasmania.[3]
Behavior
They have been proven to be slightly defensive, nocturnal—like most scorpions—and sedentary, meaning that it is highly unlikely for them to migrate when there are extreme environmental changes. Accustomed to a wetter climate, these scorpions can dig shallower or deeper burrows, depending on the situation, to avoid environmental extremes for several months.[4]
Breeding
Insemination occurs before winter and birth typically occurs during summer.[3] Females give birth to 20-30 live young over a period of several hours.[3] The young are white and soft-bodied at birth.[3] Females have been observed selectively eating some of the young but the trigger is not known.[3] It takes approximately two weeks for the exoskeleton to completely form for newborns.[3]
References
- ↑ "Southern or Wood Scorpion Cercophonius squama". Museum Victoria. http://museumvictoria.com.au/DiscoveryCentre/Infosheets/Southern-or-Wood-Scorpion/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Clinical Toxinology Resources - Cercophonius squama, University of Adelaide
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Abraham Miller - Cryptically beautiful: surprising observations of the scorpion Cercophonius squama
- ↑ Margules, C. R.; Milkovits, G. A.; Smith, G. T. (1994). "Constrasting Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on the Scorpion Cercophonius Squama and an Amphipod". Ecology 75 (7): 2033–2042. doi:10.2307/1941608. ISSN 0012-9658. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1941608.
External links
- Atlas of Living Australia: Cercophonius squama (Gervais, 1844)
- The Australian Museum: Wood or Forest Scorpion
Wikidata ☰ Q606850 entry
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