Cercophonius squama
{{Short description|Species of scorpion}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Cercophonius squama.jpg
| genus = Cercophonius
| species = squama
| authority = (Gervais, 1844)
}}
Cercophonius squama, commonly known as the forest scorpion or wood scorpion, is a scorpion native to south-eastern Australia. It is typically around {{cvt|25|–|40|mm}} long.{{cite web |url=http://museumvictoria.com.au/DiscoveryCentre/Infosheets/Southern-or-Wood-Scorpion/ |publisher=Museum Victoria |title=Southern or Wood Scorpion Cercophonius squama |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423224422/https://museumvictoria.com.au/discoverycentre/infosheets/southern-or-wood-scorpion/ |archive-date=23 April 2017 |access-date=11 October 2008 }} Its colour consists of different shades of brown.
Description
The body is creamy yellow to orange-brown with dark brown variegations.[http://www.toxinology.com/fusebox.cfm?fuseaction=main.scorpions.display&id=SC0001 Clinical Toxinology Resources - Cercophonius squama], University of Adelaide The legs are yellow with some dark brown pigment.
Distribution and habitat
Image:Cercophonius squama as seen near the ACT.jpg.]]
Cercophonius squama is found in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT and Tasmania. It is the only scorpion found in Tasmania.[http://www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/zoology/invertebrata/onlinearchive/onlinetext/inv3-02.html Abraham Miller - Cryptically beautiful: surprising observations of the scorpion Cercophonius squama]
Behaviour
They have been proven to be slightly defensive, nocturnal—like most scorpions—and sedentary, meaning that it is highly unlikely for them to migrate when there are extreme environmental changes. Accustomed to a wetter climate, these scorpions can dig shallower or deeper burrows, depending on the situation, to avoid environmental extremes for several months.{{Cite journal|last=Margules|first=C. R.|last2=Milkovits|first2=G. A.|last3=Smith|first3=G. T.|date=1994|title=Contrasting Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on the Scorpion Cercophonius Squama and an Amphipod|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1941608|journal=Ecology|volume=75|issue=7|pages=2033–2042|doi=10.2307/1941608|issn=0012-9658}}
=Breeding=
Insemination occurs before winter and birth typically occurs during summer. Females give birth to 20-30 live young over a period of several hours. The young are white and soft-bodied at birth. Females have been observed selectively eating some of the young but the trigger is not known. It takes approximately two weeks for the exoskeleton to completely form for newborns.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:0bade18c-66e5-4750-abb1-2af283cb13d1 Atlas of Living Australia: Cercophonius squama (Gervais, 1844)]
- [https://australianmuseum.net.au/learn/animals/spiders/wood-or-forest-scorpion-cercophonius-squama/ The Australian Museum: Wood or Forest Scorpion]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q606850}}
Category:Animals described in 1844
Category:Scorpions of Australia
Category:Fauna of the Australian Capital Territory