Another scorpion picture: Orthochirus scrobiculosus negebensis

[ECooper]

I picked-up a nasty virus late last week and haven’t been feeling particularly inspired (or healthy) ever since. But this morning—once I stopped trying to cough-up a lung—I decided to grab my camera and take a few photosof one of my Israeli pillar tail scorpions (Orthochirus scrobiculosus negebensis for my blog.

These are such great (I dare say cute) little scorpions. But they are a pain to photograph because they live in a dusty environment—and it is really difficult to get a nice, clear, sharp photo of a very small, dusty animal. It’s tempting to wash one of these little beasts off in some warm water. But I’m afraid that immersion in water, even for a short time, would stress the animal badly or even worse, cause it harm.

Cheers,
EC
www.macrocritters.wordpress.com
orthochirus 1 copyright Ernie Cooper 2012_filtered by ernie.cooper, on Flickr

 

[excuzzzeme]

Nice shot!

 

[tolawdjk]

So,not knowing diddly squat about scorpions, I have to ask about the "rule of thumb" that I have generally heard about them.

Is it true that the smaller the claws the nastier the sting? It makes some sense to me and the guy that I knew in college that kept Emperor scorpions seemed to believe it as gospel.

 

[Ptrick125]

Cool scorpion!


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[ECooper]

So,not knowing diddly squat about scorpions, I have to ask about the "rule of thumb" that I have generally heard about them.

Is it true that the smaller the claws the nastier the sting? It makes some sense to me and the guy that I knew in college that kept Emperor scorpions seemed to believe it as gospel.

Well...the rule of thumb is small claws + big tail= dangerous, big claws = not dangerous. It applies pretty well to scorpions like emperors and the really hot scorpions from N Africa. But it doesn't apply as well to new world scorpions, I don't know about those in Asia and Australia. My rule of thumb is to consider any scorpion to be dangerous unless I absolutely know otherwise.

EC