Hormurus waigiensis, also known as the Australian rainforest scorpion, is a species of scorpion in the Hormuridae family. It is native to Australia and New Guinea. It was first described in 1844 by French paleontologist and zoologist Paul Gervais.[1]

Hormurus waigiensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Hormuridae
Genus: Hormurus
Species:
H. waigiensis
Binomial name
Hormurus waigiensis
(Gervais, 1844)[1]
Synonyms
  • Scorpio (Ischnurus) waigiensis Gervais, 1844
  • Liocheles waigiensis (Gervais, 1844)
  • Ischnurus caudicula L.Koch, 1867
  • Ischnurus neocaledonicus Simon, 1877
  • Ischnurus dechangei Becker, 1880
  • Hormurus insculptus Thorell, 1888
  • Hormurus weberi Pocock, 1893
  • Hormurus sarasini Kraepelin, 1914
  • Hormurus caudicula novaeguineae Giltay, 1931

Description

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The scorpions can grow to about 65 mm (2.6 in) in length. They have elongated and flattened bodies and powerful pincers.[2]

Distribution and habitat

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Much of the species’ recorded range in Australia is in eastern Queensland, with some additional records from New South Wales, the Northern Territory, northern Western Australia, and New Guinea.[3] As their common name suggests, the scorpions prefer warm, humid environments. Their body shape is adapted to sheltering in rock crevices and beneath decaying bark and plant litter.[2]

 

References

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  1. ^ a b Gervais, P (1844). "Remarques sur la famille des scorpions et description de plusieurs espèces nouvelles de la collection du Muséum". Archives du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. 4: 226–240.
  2. ^ a b Peter Wright (2001). "Liocheles waigiensis". The Scorpion Files. Jan Ove Rein. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Hormurus waigiensis (Gervais, 1844)". Atlas of Living Australia. ALA. Retrieved 5 February 2023.