Isometroides vescus, also known as the spider-hunting scorpion or spiral burrow scorpion, is a species of scorpion in the Buthidae family. It is native to Australia, and was first described by German arachnologist Ferdinand Karsch in 1880.
Isometroides vescus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Scorpiones |
Family: | Buthidae |
Genus: | Isometroides |
Species: | I. vescus
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Binomial name | |
Isometroides vescus (Karsch, 1880)
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Synonyms | |
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Description
editThe species grows to about 50 mm in length. It is mainly golden-brown in colour, with a dark brown tail tip.[1]
Distribution and habitat
editFound across much of inland Australia, except for the far north, the species occurs in sclerophyll forests and woodlands, as well as saltbush plains.[1]
Behaviour
editThe scorpions are specialised free-ranging nocturnal predators of trapdoor spiders, and are often found in the vacant burrows of their prey.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Isometroides vescus (Karsch, 1880)". Atlas of Living Australia. ALA. Retrieved 30 January 2023.