Uroctonus mordax

Uroctonus mordax, known generally as the California forest scorpion or western forest scorpion, is a species of scorpion in the family Vaejovidae.[1][2] Most notably, this species is almost entirely restricted to California’s Redwood Forests and Oak Woodlands, and is considered a foundational species in those ecosystems.[3] They are most often found on south or west-facing slopes, under rocks or logs on the ground, and prefer a moist environment.[4]

Uroctonus mordax
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Chactidae
Genus: Uroctonus
Species:
U. mordax
Binomial name
Uroctonus mordax
Thorell, 1876

Anatomy

Western forest scorpions have eight legs and two large claws in front of their mouths.[5] Their bodies are more "squat" with skinnier tails than other scorpion species.[6] Western forest scorpions are typically dark brown or black. Their legs are a translucent yellowish-brown. Males have a duller color than females. Males are also smaller and shorter in length.[7] Fifth metasomal segment has a ventral median carina which forks to form a "Y".[8]

They have been described as "smaller than your pinkie, has a sting milder than a honeybee's, is so shy it only hunts on moonless nights and even then is most often seen running away"[9]

Habitat

The Western Forest Scorpion is most commonly found in the San Francisco Bay Area. They reside often in remote regions of the western facing hills.[7] Their habitat ranges from elevations of 5 meters up to 2000 meters.[10] California forest scorpions require a moister environment than other species of scorpions.[3] Therefore, they primarily reside under rocks, bark, dead trees, They have been spotted in households in Woodacre, California.

Behavior

Birthing

The Uroctonus mordax deliver their young at an earlier stage in their development. Studies have shown the Western Forest Scorpion to give birth primarily in the summer months.[10] The young are engulfed in a membrane at birth that is held by the mother until they can escape. After leaving the membrane, they climb to the mother's back. However, at no point do the young's legs touch the ground in the process of getting to the back.[11]

Subspecies

These two subspecies belong to the species Uroctonus mordax:

  • Uroctonus mordax canaliculatus Karsch, 1879
  • Uroctonus mordax mordax

References
  1. "Uroctonus mordax". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  2. "Uroctonus mordax species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  3. "CCGP — Uroctonus mordax (Western Forest Scorpion)". CCGP. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  4. Gertsch, Willis John (1972). "Studies of North American scorpions of the genera Uroctonus and Vejovis (Scorpionida, Vejovidae)". American Museum of Natural History. 148 (4). hdl:2246/1197. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  5. Buhler, Brendan (28 December 2008). "There are so many scorpions".
  6. "Scorpions of San Francisco Bay Area". Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  7. "California Forest Scorpion". 14 October 2022.
  8. "Species Uroctonus mordax - California Forest Scorpion". bugguide.net. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  9. "There Are So Many Scorpions". BayNature.org. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  10. Francke, Oscar F. "Observations on the life history of Uroctonus mordax Thorell (Scorpionida, Vaejovidae)". Department of Zoology Arizona State University.
  11. Williams, Stanley (22 October 1969). "BIRTH ACTIVITIES OF SOME NORTH AMERICAN SCORPIONS". Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. XXXVII: 1–24.

[1]

  1. Gertsch, Willis John (1972). "Studies of North American scorpions of the genera Uroctonus and Vejovis (Scorpionida, Vejovidae)". American Museum of Natural History. 148 (4). hdl:2246/1197. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
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