Androctonus bicolor

Black fat–tailed scorpion
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Scorpiones
Family:	Buthidae
Genus:	Androctonus
Species:	A. bicolor
Binomial name
Androctonus bicolor (Ehrenberg, 1828)

Androctonus bicolor, the black fat-tailed scorpion, is a scorpion species of the family Buthidae. It is black in color and can grow up to 8 cm.^[1] Black fat-tailed scorpions come from the family Buthidae, which is the largest of the scorpion family.^[2] They can be identified by their hefty physique.^[3] They tend to move very fast, and are of an aggressive nature.^[3] Black fat–tailed scorpions can live for up to 5 years.^[3] Adults can reach up to 40-60 millimeters, 80 millimeters being the maximum.^[4] These scorpions typically possess black and brown coloration.^[5] These scorpions enjoy making scrapes with wood and rocks,^[3] and are nocturnal, thus they hide in crevices or certain objects during the day.^[4] They stay in shade to retain moisture (that they obtain from prey) in their bodies, as they are susceptible to losing moisture due to their environmental preference.^[6]

Location[edit]

Androctonus is widespread in North and West Africa, the Middle East, but the wider family tolerates a wider range of habitats.^[2] This relates to the fact that black fat-tailed scorpions are rather efficient when temperatures range from 29 °C-35 °C, as this temperature allows for productive growth.^[3] Black fat–tailed scorpions are normally found in arid or semi-arid areas as well as margins of desert areas, typically areas with sandy soil.^[4] They generally prefer warm and dry areas.^[6]

Taxonomy[edit]

The black fat-tailed scorpion belongs to the genus Androctonus, which can be translated into "man-killer".^[7] The species name is bicolor which is translated into having two-colors,^[8] which could be referring to their brown-black coloration.^[5] Scorpions are under the class Arachnida, because they are arachnids that have eight legs.^[6]

Eating habits[edit]

Scorpions can eat many kinds of insects, spiders, lizards, small mammals such as mice, or even other scorpions.^[9] Scorpions are able to go months without consuming food.^[9] Prey is captured and crushed by its pincers, while their stingers are used to inject venom into their prey.^[9] This paralyzes the prey, causing immobility and allowing the scorpion to consume it with ease.^[9] Scorpions use their chelicerae (small claw-like structures attached to their mouths) to pull small parts off their prey, this is simple for them as chelicerae are quite sharp.^[9] Scorpions are only able to ingest liquids, thus their chelicerae help them dispose of solid parts that cannot be consumed.^[9]

Venom[edit]

Black fat–tailed scorpions use neurotoxic venom, which is fast acting and can be absorbed very quickly, because of the small molecular weight of the proteins that make up the venom.^[10] These neurotoxins act on the central nervous system, causing paralysis in the nerves that are responsible for respiration, which ultimately causes death by respiratory failure.^[10] The neurotoxins may also cause widespread neuronal excitation, symptoms of which can include pain, sweating, salivation, and tearing.^[11] Severe envenomation is likely, as the rate of envenoming is 10-20%, making it potentially lethal.^[5] Victims are likely to feel progressively weaker after envenoming.^[10] Envenoming can result in death, which can occur between 5 and 15 hours, but it is also possible for death to occur within one hour.^[10] Examples of common symptoms that occur after a sting are: drowsiness, drooping eyelids, paralysis of neck muscles, loss of muscle coordination, and abdominal pain.^[10] A monovalent antivenom (an antivenom that heals stings of specific species ^[12]) called Anti-scorpionique is available to treat stings from a black fat-tailed scorpion.^[5]

References[edit]