Desert Scorpion
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© Adam Lusted/Flickr
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Urodacus
- Species
- yaschenkoi
- Family
- Urodacidae
- Order
- Scorpiones
- Class
- Arachnida
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- body length 10 cm
Identification
It has a stout body and is yellow to reddish brown depending on where it is found.
Habitat
Found in open sandy woodland and shrubland occupying deep spiral burrows with wide, crescent-shaped openings
The deep spiral burrow construction has thought to be evolved as an adaptation for the avoidance of harsh surface conditions, and has enabled species of the genus Urodacus to spread to otherwise inhospitable arid environments. The main function of spiralling, however, is the maintenance of suitable levels of moisture and temperature. Burrows can be up to 1m deep, occuring in open ground.
Distribution
It can be found from western New South Wales to north western Australia, it has a arid zone distribution.
Breeding behaviours
Mating and molting occur in late spring/early summer, whilst young are born 18 months later in late summer/early autumn.
References
- Koch, LE 1978. A comparative study of the structure, function and adaptation to different habitats of burrows in the scorpion genus Urodacus (Scorpionida, Scorpionidae). Records of the Western Australian Museum 6(2): 119-146 .
- Stockmann, Roland and Ythier , Eric 2010. Scorpions of the World. N.A.P. Editions, France.
- Walker, K. L., Yen, A. L. and Milledge, G. A. 2003. Spiders and Scorpions commonly found in Victoria. Royal Society of Victoria: Melbourne.
