Hoffmannius spinigerus

Hoffmannius spinigerus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Scorpiones
Genus:	Hoffmannius
Species:	H. spinigerus
Binomial name
Hoffmannius spinigerus (Wood, 1863)

Hoffmannius spinigerus,^[1] commonly known as the Stripe-tailed scorpion or the "devil" scorpion, is very common and widely distributed in Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. This species is one of larger members of the eusthenura group of the genus Hoffmannius, which also includes Hoffmannius coahuilae and H. confusus.

Description

Hoffmannius spinigerus is a medium-sized scorpion with large adult males and females reaching nearly 60-70 mm, weighing approximately 9.5 mg. ^[2]It can be differentiated from the Arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus) by the brownish-tan stripes on the back of its tail along the keels or ridges; the tail is typically thicker than the hands and pedipalps, both of which are quite slender in the bark scorpions. Some others may have a base color of light yellow/golden brown with variable underlying ducky markings along its tail. ^[3]The name spinigerus is derived from the spiniform granules at the ends of the dorsal keels of the tail.

Habitat

Found in the Sonoran desert (Arizona, New Mexico and parts of California), commonly found under rocks and surface objects, such as sleeping bags or shoes, or on sandy soils in a variety of habitats, from desert floor to rocky hillsides. It seeks the most humid areas it can find.^[4]

Ecology

Diet

Like most scorpions, Hoffmannius spinigerus feeds primarily on small invertebrates, including other scorpions, as well as crickets, meal worms and roaches.^[5]

Predators

Pallid birds, meerkats, "sand-swimmer" snakes, spiders, centipedes, lizards, birds, mammals and other scorpions all prey on Hoffmannius spinigerus.

Venom

Like all scorpions, Hoffmannius spinigerus is venomous ^[6] however the venom of this species is not medically significant for humans or other mammals and is not considered dangerous.

Mating/Reproduction

They are parthenogenic, meaning they can reproduce without fertilization. Smell and vibrations are two ways the Hoffmannius Spinigerus mate with other scorpions. When a couple find each other, they may display a dance with each other that can take a few minutes to hours. After they are finished dancing with each other, they will go their separate ways. If the male stays dancing longer than the female, the female will then attack him and eat him. The offspring grows inside of the female scorpion and be born alive from her body ^[7] You will notice the females posture is different from any other scorpion during this gestation period, which usually lasts for 3-8 months. Her body will look very inflexible and rigid. Around the time of birth, her front legs will be lowered, allowing the offspring to come out of her body. Some will emerge one at a time with a few minutes apart, others will emerge all at once at a constant flow. Her stiff posture will remain until all of the offspring have left her body. She will care for them and carry them on her back up until they go through the first molting period. "Scorplings" (her offspring) can range anywhere from 1- 100 at a time. Depending on the species and their environmental factors, the mothers will either care for them or eat them. We are still unsure about why that is.^[8]

References

1. Updates to Vaejovidae 2008
2. Oscar, F. Francke, and Lorenzo Prendini. "Phylogeny and Classification of the Giant Hairy Scorpions, Hadrurus Thorell (Iuridae Thorell): A Reappraisal." Systematics and Biodiversity 6.2 (2008): 205-23. ProQuest. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.
3. Hughes, Garrett Brady. "Morphological analysis of montane scorpions of the genus Vaejovis (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) in Arizona with revised diagnoses and description of a new species." Journal of Arachnology 39.3 (2011): 420-438.
4. Wolf, Harold. The Pectine Organs of the Scorpion, Vaejovis Spinigerus: Structure and (glomerular) Central Projections. N.p.: Elsevier Ltd, 2007. PDF.
5. Sissom, W. David. "The genus< i> Vaejovis in Sonora, Mexico (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae)." Insecta Mundi (1991): 417.
6. Sissom, W. David. "A new species of Vaejovis (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae) from western Arizona, with supplemental notes on the male of Vaejovis spicatus Haradon." Journal of Arachnology (1993): 64-68.
7. Warburg, Michael R. "Scorpion Reproductive Strategies, Allocation and Potential; a Partial Review." European Journal of Entomology 108.2 (2011): 173-81. ProQuest. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
8. Walker, Gabrielle. "The Collector." New Scientist Jul 26 2003: 38. ProQuest. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

^[1]

1. Warburg, Michael R. "Scorpion Reproductive Strategies, Allocation and Potential; a Partial Review." European Journal of Entomology 108.2 (2011): 173-81. ProQuest. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.