Dune scorpion

Smeringurus mesaensis, also known as the dune scorpion or giant sand scorpion, is a species of scorpion in the family Vaejovidae.[1] It is common in the deserts of the southwestern United States.[2]

Dune scorpion
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Vaejovidae
Genus: Smeringurus
Species:
S. mesaensis
Binomial name
Smeringurus mesaensis
(Stahnke, 1957)

Description

The dune scorpion is approximately 72 mm in length and 2.0 g in mass.[3]

Behaviour and ecology

Smeringurus mesaensis is fossorial and solitary, though young will aggregate shortly after dispersing from their mother. Females of this species are typically larger than males,[4] with males traveling to find females during mating season.[5] They are nocturnal creatures, active between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., accounting for their daytime invisibility.[6]

References
  1. Gardiner, Mary (2015). Good Garden Bugs: Everything You Need to Know about Beneficial Predatory Insects. Quarry Books. pp. 157–. ISBN 9781592539093. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  2. Web, Animal Diversity. "BioKIDS - Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species,". www.biokids.umich.edu. Retrieved 2017-07-08.
  3. "ADW: : INFORMATION". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2017-07-08.
  4. Polis, Gary (1990). The Biology of Scorpions. Stanford University Press. pp. 161–223.
  5. "ADW: : INFORMATION". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2017-07-08.
  6. Stockmann, Roland (2015), Gopalakrishnakone, P.; Possani, Lourival D.; F. Schwartz, Elisabeth; Rodríguez de la Vega, Ricardo C. (eds.), "Introduction to Scorpion Biology and Ecology", Scorpion Venoms, Toxinology, Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, pp. 25–59, doi:10.1007/978-94-007-6404-0_14, ISBN 978-94-007-6404-0, retrieved 2021-10-28


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