Heterometrus spinifer
| Heterometrus spinifer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Heterometrus spinifer | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Chelicerata |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | Scorpionidae |
| Genus: | Heterometrus |
| Species: | H. spinifer |
| Binomial name | |
| Heterometrus spinifer (Ehrenberg in Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1828) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Heterometrus spinifer, the Giant Forest Scorpion or Giant Blue Scorpion, is a species of scorpions belonging to the family Scorpionidae.
Description
Heterometrus spinifer can reach a length of about 10–12 centimetres (3.9–4.7 in).[2] The body is shiny black with gray-green reflections. The pincers are highly developed. It feeds primarily on insects, mainly cockroaches, crickets and locusts.[3] Its venom can cause very severe pain, disorders of vision and mild numbness in the affected area but it is not lethal for the man.[3] These scorpions are very aggressive,[3] using their large pedipalps to attack, more than their tail.
Distribution and habitat
This species can be found in South East Asia,[2] including Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.[3] Generally, these terrestrial scorpions live in moist forests in the dark undergrowth under logs or other debris and they burrow into the ground where it can hide during the day.[3]
References
- Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1828 : Zoologica II. Arachnoidea. Symbolae physicae seu icones et descriptiones animalium evertebratorum sepositis insectis quae ex itinere per Africam borealem et Asiam occidentalem. Berolini: Officina Academica.