Hormurus waigiensis
Hormurus waigiensis, also known as the Australian rainforest scorpion, is a species of scorpion in the Hormuridae family. It is native to Australia and New Guinea. It was first described in 1844 by French paleontologist and zoologist Paul Gervais.[1]
| Hormurus waigiensis | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | Hormuridae |
| Genus: | Hormurus |
| Species: | H. waigiensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Hormurus waigiensis | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description
The scorpions can grow to about 65 mm in length. They have elongated and flattened bodies as well as powerful pincers.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Much of the species’ recorded range in Australia is in eastern Queensland, with some additional records from New South Wales, the Northern Territory, northern Western Australia, and New Guinea.[3] As their common name suggests, the scorpions prefer warm and humid environments. Their body shape is adapted to sheltering in rock crevices and beneath decaying bark and plant litter.[2]
References
- Gervais, P (1844). "Remarques sur la famille des scorpions et description de plusieurs espèces nouvelles de la collection du Muséum". Archives du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. 4: 226–240.
- Peter Wright (2001). "Liocheles waigiensis". The Scorpion Files. Jan Ove Rein. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- "Hormurus waigiensis (Gervais, 1844)". Atlas of Living Australia. ALA. Retrieved 5 February 2023.