Cercophonius squama
| Cercophonius squama | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | Bothriuridae |
| Genus: | Cercophonius |
| Species: | C. squama |
| Binomial name | |
| Cercophonius squama (Gervais, 1844) | |
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 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]
Behaviour
Aggressive.
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
- ↑ Museum Victoria - Southern or Wood Scorpion Cercophonius squama
- 1 2 University of Adelaide Clinical Toxinology Resources - Cercophonius squama
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Abraham Miller - Cryptically beautiful: surprising observations of the scorpion Cercophonius squama