Lychas variatus, also known as the marbled scorpion or splendid marbled scorpion, is a species of small scorpion in the Buthidae family. It is native to Australia and New Guinea, and was first described in 1877 by Swedish arachnologist Tamerlan Thorell.[1]

Lychas variatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Buthidae
Genus: Lychas
Species:
L. variatus
Binomial name
Lychas variatus
(Thorell, 1877)[1]
Synonyms
  • Isometrus thorelli Keyserling, 1885
  • Isometrus variatus Thorell, 1877
  • Isometrus variatus papuanus Thorell, 1888
  • Isometrus armatus Pocock, 1890
  • Lychas marmoreus kimberleyanus Kraepelin, 1916
  • Lychas spinatus Kraepelin, 1916
  • Lychas spinatus pallidus Glauert, 1925
  • Lychas spinatus besti Glauert, 1925
  • Lychas lappa Glauert, 1954

Description

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The species grows to about 40 mm in length. Colouration is yellowish-brown mottled, or marbled, with light brown patches. The tail constitutes about half the length of the body, with a prong at the base of the stinger.[2]

Distribution and habitat

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As well as New Guinea, the species’ range covers much of northern and eastern Australia. It prefers warm and moist environments, and shelters beneath rocks, bark and plant litter.[2]

Behaviour

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The scorpions are terrestrial predators that hunt and feed on invertebrates. They may enter houses. Their sting is painful to humans but is not considered to be dangerous.[2]

 

References

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  1. ^ a b Thorell, T (1877). "Études scorpiologiques". Abhandlungen Herausgegeben vom Naturwissenschaftlichen Verein zu Bremen. 19: 136.
  2. ^ a b c "Lychas variatus (Thorell, 1877)". Atlas of Living Australia. ALA. Retrieved 2 February 2023.