Biology:Scorpio maurus

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Short description: Species of scorpion

Scorpio maurus
SCORPIO MAURUS PALMATUS.jpg
Scorpio maurus palmatus
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Scorpionidae
Genus: Scorpio
Species:
S. maurus
Binomial name
Scorpio maurus

Scorpio maurus is a species of North African and Middle Eastern scorpion, also known as the large-clawed scorpion or Israeli gold scorpion and lesser known as Zerachia scorpion.

This is a small/medium-sized scorpion 3 inches (76 mm) from the family Scorpionidae. It has brown back and golden claws. There are many sub-species of this scorpion, 19 of which were described by Fet et al.

The venom of Scorpio maurus contains a high variety of toxins including proteases, phospholipases, protease inhibitors and potassium channel toxins δ-KTx.[1] Although its venom contains a weak neurotoxin called maurotoxin, S. maurus is not a dangerous scorpion for humans.[2] There are no records of fatalities.

Habits

Found in very deep burrows in deserts and occasionally sparse woodland. Its habit of creating very deep burrows (up to 1 metre deep) means that in captivity this scorpion is often happiest with higher humidity: sand that is deep will be moist, thereby creating a comparatively humid burrow.

References

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q2627701 entry