| Lychas buchari | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | Buthidae |
| Genus: | Lychas |
| Species: | L. buchari |
| Binomial name | |
| Lychas buchari Kovarík, 1997 [1] | |
Lychas buchari, also known as the yellow sand scorpion or Buchar's scorpion, is a species of small scorpion in the Buthidae family. It is native to Australia, and was first described in 1997 by Czech arachnologist Frantisek Kovarik.
The species epithet buchari honours Czech arachnologist Jan Buchar of Charles University in Prague. [1]
The base colour of the species is a uniform yellow to yellowish-brown. They grow to an average length of 55 mm. [2] They have an estimated life span of 8 years. [2]
They have the greatest number of pectinal teeth of all Lychas species, with a count of 26. [3] These teeth are used to detect stimuli and convey neural signals throughout the scorpion's body. [4] As small buthid scorpions they also carry a potent venom, with a researchers account of the sting comparing the pain to a sharp burn. Lasting 15 minutes with residual pain continuing another 2 hours. The sting site remained highly sensitive for the next 2 days. [5]
Like all scorpions they possess two main weapons, their stinging apparatus and pedipalps (claws). [6] Lychas buchari has less pronounced pedipalps relative to other buthid scorpions and is more inclined to use their tail to both subdue prey and defend themselves. They glow under ultraviolet light; the cause is unknown; some conjecture that it is due to the absorption of fluorescent minerals, though this is unconfirmed. [7] This does make them easier targets for people to sample during night as they glow a bright greenish-blue colour when a ultraviolet light is used, contrasting sharply with the sandy environment. [8]
The species is found in central Australia, including northern South Australia, western New South Wales and Western Australia. The scorpions have been seen to roam at night across sand-dunes surrounding dry salt lakes. [3]
Lychas burchari can survive in captivity but are only recommended to experts that have cared for buthid scorpions before. They have a generally timid manner but still can produce a painful sting. [2] All enclosures should have sufficient space for the animals' well-being and simulate its natural habitat, red sand dunes; this is both for the scorpions health and quality of life. [2]
Males and females have a couple defining features to help identify their separate sexes. On average males have longer tails (metasoma) and thinner bodies (mesosoma) compared to females. [2] The pedipalps are also more bulbous and short on males compared to females which help for gripping their mating partner. [2]
The mating ritual/dance between scorpions is called the promenade à deux (walk for two). [9] It begins with the male grasping the females pedipalps and circle each other for a few minutes. During this time the males spermatophore is being prepared and the female starts producing a substrate to accept the spermatophore. Once ready the male positions himself directly over the females genital region and excretes his sperm. Once the exchange is complete the scorpions will either go separate ways as normal, or if the female is particularly aggressive will then eat the male. [9]
After fertilisation the offspring develop in the ovariuterus or a small pocket that grows from there. The embryos are nourished through nutrient secretions within the ovariuterus. After the allotted gestation period all young is birthed at the same time. [9]
Lychas burchari, along with all desert dwelling scorpions, rely on pectinal teeth to sense vibrations on the sand surface. They are usually nocturnal hunters that go out at night and wait for suitable prey to come within range. [10] Once they detect a prey target they approach pedipalps first and try to lock down the target. Then proceed to inject neuro toxins through their tail stinger to completely debilitate their prey. [10]
They prey on mostly small insects, spiders and even small lizards when the opportunity is available. [11] Though having extremely small mouth parts means all prey caught must be mashed up and broken down with enzymes. This process can take up to an hour yet these scorpions can last months between meals. [11]
Hottentotta is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. It is distributed widely across Africa, except for most of the Sahara desert. Species in the genus also occur in the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, southeastern Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Cape Verde Islands, and Sri Lanka (introduced).
Hottentotta tamulus, the Indian red scorpion, also known as the eastern Indian scorpion, is a species of scorpion of the family Buthidae. It occurs in most of India, eastern Pakistan and the eastern lowlands of Nepal, and recently from Sri Lanka.
Isometrus maculatus, commonly as the lesser brown scorpion, is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. Its distribution is pantropical; it is an introduced species in Hawaii.
Reddyanus basilicus is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae.
Reddyanus besucheti is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae endemic to Sri Lanka.
Reddyanus problematicus, previously known as Isometrus problematicus, is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. Found in India, the species exhibits distinct characteristics. In females, the total body length measures approximately 22 millimeters (mm). The pedipalps, legs, and segments of the metasoma display a coloration ranging from yellow to reddish-brown, accentuated by black spots.
Reddyanus loebli is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae.
Mesobuthus is an Asian genus of scorpions in the family Buthidae.
Charmus laneaus is a species of non-venomous scorpion in the family Buthidae endemic to Sri Lanka.
Lychas srilankensis is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Srilankametrus gravimanus is a species of scorpion belonging to the family Scorpionidae. It is native to India and Sri Lanka.
Leiurus abdullahbayrami is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. Its venom is highly toxic to humans, but can be used in medical development.
Afrolychas braueri, commonly known as the Seychelles forest scorpion, is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. It is currently thought to survive only on Silhouette Island, Seychelles, although the species was historically found on two additional Seychellois islands. This scorpion lives in leaf litter in forests that are largely unaffected by invasive plant species. It is a small yellowish-brown scorpion with three prominent keels on the dorsal surface of its mesosoma, which distinguishes it from other scorpions. While not much is known about the Seychelles forest scorpion's ecology due to the paucity of sightings, it is known to rely solely on its venom to capture its prey and defend its young. Its venom is not dangerous to humans.
Lychas is a genus of scorpions belonging to the family Buthidae. It is one of the most widespread genus of the scorpions, where the species are found throughout in Africa and Seychelles, and in the Oriental region from India to Melanesia.
Charmus saradieli is a species of non-venomous scorpion in the family Buthidae endemic to Sri Lanka.
Reddyanus is a genus of buthid scorpions native to Oriental region from India, Sri Lanka, China: Tibet, to Melanesia. The genus was previously described as a subgenus of Isometrus.
Reddyanus ceylonensis is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae endemic to Sri Lanka.
Reddyanus jayarathnei is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae endemic to Sri Lanka.
Reddyanus ranawanai is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae endemic to Sri Lanka.
Hemiscorpius lepturus is a species of scorpion in the family Hemiscorpiidae. It is found in deserts of the Middle East, especially in southern Iraq and Iran, where it is sometimes referred to as the "Gadim scorpion". These scorpions have long, thin tails and wide bodies and grow to 8 cm (3.1 in) in males and 5.5 cm (2.2 in) in females, allowing them to live in tight rock crevices. They are fairly solitary creatures. H. lepturus has mainly been studied to discover the components and effects of its venom, which is highly lethal and is responsible for most deaths due to scorpion sting in the Iran area. H. lepturus is the only scorpion not in the family Buthidae that is potentially lethal to humans; the Buthidae family is the largest and most abundant family of scorpions, containing many highly venomous species.
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