Isometroides vescus
{{Short description|Species of scorpion}}
{{Speciesbox
|image =
|image_caption =
| status =
| status_system =
| status_ref =
| genus = Isometroides
| species = vescus
| authority = (Karsch, 1880)
| synonyms =
- Isometrus vescus Karsch, 1880
}}
Isometroides vescus, also known as the spider-hunting scorpion or spiral burrow scorpion, is a species of scorpion in the Buthidae family. It is native to Australia, and was first described by German arachnologist Ferdinand Karsch in 1880.
Description
The species grows to about 50 mm in length. It is mainly golden-brown in colour, with a dark brown tail tip.{{cite web |url= https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/590cb658-298d-4650-8355-4fae93807e42#tab_recordsView|title= Isometroides vescus (Karsch, 1880) |author= |date=|website= Atlas of Living Australia |publisher=ALA |access-date= 30 January 2023}}
Distribution and habitat
Found across much of inland Australia, except for the far north, the species occurs in sclerophyll forests and woodlands, as well as saltbush plains.
Behaviour
The scorpions are specialised free-ranging nocturnal predators of trapdoor spiders, and are often found in the vacant burrows of their prey.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from1= Q3155542}}
Category:Scorpions of Australia
Category:Endemic fauna of Australia
Category:Arthropods of New South Wales
Category:Arthropods of the Northern Territory
Category:Arachnids of Queensland
Category:Arthropods of South Australia
Category:Arthropods of Victoria (state)
Category:Arthropods of Western Australia
Category:Animals described in 1880
Category:Taxa named by Ferdinand Karsch
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