Srilankametrus indus, commonly known as the giant forest scorpion, is a species of scorpions belonging to the family Scorpionidae. It is native to India and Sri Lanka.[1][2][3]

Srilankametrus indus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Scorpionidae
Genus: Srilankametrus
Species:
S. indus
Binomial name
Srilankametrus indus
(DeGeer, 1778)
Synonyms
  • Scorpio indus De Geer, 1778
  • Heterometrus indus indus Couzijn, 1981
  • Heterometrus indus Fet, 2000
  • Scorpio ceylonicus Herbst, 1800
  • Heterometrus (Heterometrus) spinifer solitarius Couzijn, 1981

Description edit

This large scorpion has the total length of 90 to 130 mm. Adults are uniformly reddish black to greenish black in color. Both sexes with 10 to 15 pectinal teeth. Pedipalp chela is hirsute, and lobiform. Manus is covered by rounded granules which are appear as rows. Pedipalp patella lacks a pronounced internal tubercle. Carapace smooth, and glossy with some marginal granules. Dorsal and dorsolateral carinae of metasomal segments are smooth. Telson vesicle is longer than aculeus.[4]

A voracious predator, it is known to feed on many larger animals.[5][6]

References edit

  1. ^ "Giant Forest Scorpion - Heterometrus spp". carnivoraforum.com. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  2. ^ Kovařík, František (2015-12-10). "A review of the genus Heterometrus Ehrenberg, 1828, with descriptions of seven new species (Scorpiones, Scorpionidae)". Euscorpius. 2004 (15): 1–60. doi:10.18590/euscorpius.2004.vol2004.iss15.1. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  3. ^ Tahir, H. Muhammad; Prendini, Lorenzo (2014). "Redescription of Heterometrus latimanus and confirmation of the genus Heterometrus (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae) in Pakistan". American Museum Novitates (3805): 1–23. doi:10.1206/3805.1. S2CID 53490599. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  4. ^ Charles University; Kovařík, František; Lowe, Graeme; Monell Chemical Senses Center; Ranawana, Kithsiri B.; University of Peradeniya; Hoferek, David; Jayarathne, V. A. Sanjeewa; University of Peradeniya (2016). "Scorpions of Sri Lanka (Scorpiones: Buthidae, Chaerilidae, Scorpionidae) with description of four new species of the genera Charmus Karsch, 1879 and Reddyanus Vachon, 1972, stat. n". Euscorpius. 2016 (220): 1–133. doi:10.18590/euscorpius.2016.vol2016.iss220.1. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  5. ^ Tare TG, et al. (1993). "Burrow patterns of the scorpion Heterometrus indus". Med Vet Entomol. 7 (1): 102–4. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2915.1993.tb00660.x. PMID 8435482. S2CID 31171758.
  6. ^ T G Tare (1 August 1992). "Circadian variation in venom yield by the scorpion Heterometrus indus (De Geer)". Medical and Veterinary Entomology. 6 (3): 307–8. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2915.1992.tb00623.x. PMID 1421507. S2CID 33516011. Retrieved 13 March 2015.

External links edit