Fattail scorpion or fat-tailed scorpion is the common name given to scorpions of the genusAndroctonus, one of the most dangerous groups of scorpion species worldwide.[1] The genus was first described in 1828 by Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg.[2]
Members of this genus are found throughout Northern Africa, the Middle East and eastwards to Northeastern India, more commonly in semi-arid and arid regions.[1][3]
They are moderate sized scorpions, some attaining lengths of 10cm (just under 4inches).[4] Their common name is derived from their distinctly fat metasoma, or tail, while the scientific name for the genus originates from Greek to mean "man killer".[5] Their venom contains powerful neurotoxins, and their sting can have a potent negative effects on domestic animals and people - even causing several human deaths each year.[1]. This has led several pharmaceutical companies to manufacture an antivenom for treatment of Androctonus envenomations.[6]
Ecology
The fat-tailed scorpion is nocturnal and hides in crevices during the day, which may also limit dehydration.[7] Ongoing threats to the scorpions is though habitat loss by human development of their habitat. [8]
The following checklist corresponds to The Scorpion Files (As of August2025[update]),[10] counties and geographic ranges are adapted from Ythier 2021, and Ythier & Lourenço, 2022.[11][12][13]
An English translation of the name Androctonus is "man-killer", from the Ancient Greekanḗr, andrós (ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός), meaning "man" and kteínein (κτείνειν), meaning "to kill". The species name crassicauda loosely translates as "fat-tailed", from the Latincrassus meaning "fat" and cauda, meaning "tail", hence Androctonus crassicauda is "fat-tailed man-killer". Similarly, Androctonus australis has the species name australis from the Latin word for South, therefore "southern man-killer".
Despite the risks of keeping such a dangerously venomous species in captivity, Androctonus scorpions are frequently found in the exotic animal trade,[where?]A. amoreuxi and A. australis being the most commonly available. The fat-tailed scorpion's main diet when in captivity consists of cockroaches, grasshoppers, and crickets. However, the fat-tailed scorpion is able to go months without consuming food. Scorpions will generally try to kill and eat anything which moves and is smaller than themselves.[14] Fat-tail scorpions kill their prey by first crushing them with their pincers and then injecting them with venom from their stingers.[15] Once the prey has been stung, it causes paralysis and allows the scorpion to consume it with ease.[16] Interestingly, the fat-tail scorpion can only ingest liquids.[17] To simulate the desert environment, the enclosure used to keep the scorpion in must be kept at a temperature of between 26 and 30 degrees Celsius (79–86°F)[citation needed].
↑ Ehrenberg, Christian Gottfried (1828–1831), "Animalia evertebrata exclusis insectis", in Hemprich, F.W.; Ehrenberg, C.G. (eds.), Symbolae Physicae, seu Icones et descriptiones corporum naturalium novorum aut minus cognitorum [etc], vol.IV, Berlin: Officina Academica, p.unnumbered
↑ Abdulaziz R. Alqahtani; Ahmed Badry (2021). "A contribution to the scorpion fauna of Saudi Arabia, with an identification key (Arachnida: Scorpiones)". King Saud University Journal: Science. 33: 1–13. doi:10.1016/j.jksus.2021.101396. ISSN1018-3647. WikidataQ135840660.
↑ Éric Ythier; Wilson R. Lourenço (2022). "A new species of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 from Western Sahara (Scorpiones: Buthidae)". Serket. 18 (3): 239–251. WikidataQ135677075.
↑ "Androctonus". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
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