Scorpio maurus
Scorpio maurus palmatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Scorpionidae
Genus: Scorpio
Species:
S. maurus
Binomial name
Scorpio maurus

Scorpio maurus is a species of North African and Middle Eastern scorpion, also known as the large-clawed scorpion or Israeli gold scorpion and lesser known as Zerachia scorpion.

This is a small/medium-sized scorpion 3 inches (76 mm) from the family Scorpionidae. It has brown back and golden claws. There are many sub-species of this scorpion, 19 of which were described by Fet et al.

The venom of Scorpio maurus contains a high variety of toxins including proteases, phospholipases, protease inhibitors and potassium channel toxins δ-KTx.[1] Although its venom contains a weak neurotoxin called maurotoxin, S. maurus is not a dangerous scorpion for humans.[2] There are no records of fatalities.

Habits

Found in very deep burrows in deserts and occasionally sparse woodland. Its habit of creating very deep burrows (up to 1 metre deep) means that in captivity this scorpion is often happiest with higher humidity: sand that is deep will be moist, thereby creating a comparatively humid burrow.

References

  1. ^ So, Wai Lok; Leung, Thomas C.N.; Nong, Wenyan; Bendena, William G.; Ngai, Sai Ming; Hui, Jerome H.L. (December 2021). "Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of venom glands from scorpions Liocheles australasiae, Mesobuthus martensii, and Scorpio maurus palmatus". Peptides. 146: 170643. doi:10.1016/j.peptides.2021.170643. PMID 34461138. S2CID 237311410.
  2. ^ Wood, Trina (April 15, 2016). "Scorpion Venom Yields Clues for Developing Better Pharmaceuticals". University of California, Davis. Retrieved October 2, 2018.

External links

Media related to Scorpio maurus at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Scorpio maurus at Wikispecies


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