| Parabuthus brevimanus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | Buthidae |
| Genus: | Parabuthus |
| Species: | P. brevimanus |
| Binomial name | |
| Parabuthus brevimanus (Thorell 1876) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Parabuthus brevimanus is a species of scorpion from southern Africa, that ranges from southern Angola to Namibia and western South Africa, where its range extends south of the Orange River. [1]
It is a semipsammophilous species that inhabits compacted or semicompacted sandy or gravelly substrates, wherein it burrows either in open ground, or at the base of shrubs or grass tufts. The rows of long, comb-like bristles [n 1] on the lower tarsi (third distal segment) of the four front legs are suggestive of its habits and habitat choice. [1]
It prefers substantially more solid substrates [2] than the sand dunes occupied by its close relatives P. kuanyamarum and P. nanus . It is syntopic with P. granulatus throughout its range, but less often so with P. laevifrons , P. schlechteri , and P. villosus than its near relative P. gracilis . [1]
The species is basal to the clade that incorporates the P. distridor –P. kuanyamarum and P. gracilis–P. nanus sister groups. This clade is uniquely separable from other Parabuthus species by a combination of characters. [1] They have a small adult size, with a carapace length of 0.25–0.5 cm. Their tail segments are slender, some about twice as long as their width, while the hindmost (4th and 5th) segments are almost devoid of ridges (carinae). [n 2] Micro details of the pedipalps are also unique to the clade. [n 3] [1]
It is most similar to P. gracilis with which it is sympatric in the Erongo and Kunene regions of Namibia. It is, however, separable from all species in the clade by a range of characteristics. [1] The surface of the middle (median) ocular tubercle is smooth and shiny in both sexes, besides the surrounding carapace surface of females. The pedipalp base (chela manus) is likewise smooth. Though some ridges (carinae) of the proximal four tail segments are weakly developed, the remaining ridges on the second and third segments comprise uniquely arranged processes and tubercles. [n 4]
Scorpions are predatory arachnids of the order Scorpiones. They have eight legs, and are easily recognized by a pair of grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back and always ending with a stinger. The evolutionary history of scorpions goes back 435 million years. They mainly live in deserts but have adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions, and can be found on all continents except Antarctica. There are over 2,500 described species, with 22 extant (living) families recognized to date. Their taxonomy is being revised to account for 21st-century genomic studies.
Arachnida is a class of joint-legged invertebrate animals (arthropods), in the subphylum Chelicerata. Arachnida includes orders containing spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites, harvestmen, and solifuges. In 2019, a molecular phylogenetic study also placed horseshoe crabs in Arachnida.
Amblypygi is an ancient order of arachnid chelicerate arthropods also known as whip spiders and tailless whip scorpions. The name "amblypygid" means "blunt tail", a reference to a lack of the flagellum that is otherwise seen in whip scorpions. They are harmless to humans. Amblypygids possess no silk glands or venomous fangs. They rarely bite if threatened, but can grab fingers with their pedipalps, resulting in thorn-like puncture injuries.
Thelyphonida is an arachnid order comprising invertebrates commonly known as whip scorpions or vinegaroons. They are often called uropygids in the scientific community based on an alternative name for the order, Uropygi. The name "whip scorpion" refers to their resemblance to true scorpions and possession of a whiplike tail, and "vinegaroon" refers to their ability when attacked to discharge an offensive, vinegar-smelling liquid, which contains acetic acid.
Pulmonoscorpius kirktonensis is an extinct species of scorpion that lived during the Viséan and Serpukhovian ages of the Carboniferous period, around 336.0 – 326.4 million years ago.
Paravaejovis spinigerus, commonly known as the stripe-tailed scorpion or the "devil" scorpion, is very common and widely distributed in Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. This species is one of larger members of the genus Paravaejovis, which also includes Paravaejovis confusus.
Cherax parvus is a species of crayfish in the family Parastacidae. It is only known from its type locality – the Upper Tully River catchment in the Cardwell Range of north-eastern Queensland – and is listed as data deficient on the IUCN Red List. It was discovered in a rainforest catchment in a highland of northeastern Queensland during a Queensland Museum expedition to the upper Tully River area in November 1992. It is one of the smallest species in the genus. No species of Cherax has been considered endemic to wet upland or highland areas before it was discovered; most previous records were from elevations less than 400 meters. It also has several morphological features unique to the genus, and does not appear closely related to any extant species, suggesting a long period of geographic isolation.
The Buthidae are the largest family of scorpions, containing about 96 genera and over 1230 species as of 2021. Its members are known as, for example, fat-tailed scorpions and bark scorpions. A few very large genera are known, but a high number of species-poor or monotypic ones also exist. New taxa are being described at a rate of several new species per year. They occur in the warmer parts of every major landmass on Earth, except Antarctica and New Zealand. Together with four other families, the Buthidae make up the superfamily Buthoidea. The family was established by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1837.
Nipponopsalididae is a family of harvestmen with three described species in one genus, Nipponopsalis, which is found in East Asia.
Opiliones are an order of arachnids and share many common characteristics with other arachnids. However, several differences separate harvestmen from other arachnid orders such as spiders. The bodies of opiliones are divided into two tagmata : the abdomen (opisthosoma) and the cephalothorax (prosoma). Unlike spiders, the juncture between the abdomen and cephalothorax is often poorly defined. Harvestmen have chelicerae, pedipalps and four pairs of legs. Most harvestmen have two eyes, although there are eyeless species.
This glossary describes the terms used in formal descriptions of spiders; where applicable these terms are used in describing other arachnids.
Parabuthus villosus, the black hairy thick-tailed scorpion, is a species of scorpion from southern Africa, where it ranges from the Northern Cape to Namibia. It is the largest species of the Buthidae, measuring up to 18 cm, and its diet may include lizards and mice. The species is often active at dawn and dusk, but takes refuge by day in a variety of shelters. It resembles Parabuthus transvaalicus, which is more strictly nocturnal, less hairy and with a more easterly distribution.
Parabuthus is a genus of large and highly venomous Afrotropical scorpions, that show a preference for areas of low rainfall. Their stings are medically important and human fatalities have been recorded.
Procaris hawaiana is a species of shrimp in the family Procarididae, from Maui, Hawaii. The species is very similar to Procaris ascensionis from Ascension Island. In P. ascensionis the integument is less firm, the rostrum is shorter, the cervical groove is more distinct, and the third abdominal somite reaches less far posteriorly over the fourth; also the scaphocerite has the final tooth still less distinct than in P. hawaiana, and the last segment of its antennal peduncle is less slender.
Chaceon crosnieri is a species of crab.
Mesobuthus is a genus of scorpions, containing the following species:
Alpheus tricolor is a crustacean belonging to the family of snapping shrimp. It was first isolated in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. It counts with a setose carapace, an acute rostrum, shallow adrostral furrows and a basicerite with a strong ventrolateral tooth. The lamella of its scaphocerite is not reduced, with an anterior margin that is concave. Its third maxilliped counts with an epipodial plate bearing thick setae, while its first chelipeds are found with their merus bearing a strong disto-mesial tooth; its third pereiopod has an armed ischium, with a simple and conical dactylus. Its telson is broad, distally tapering, with 2 pairs of dorsal spines. The species is named after its characteristic colour pattern, including white, red and orange.
Tityus apozonalli is an extinct species of scorpion in the family Buthidae known from a fossil found in North America. The species is one of two scorpions described from Mexican amber and one of seven species from Central American amber deposits.
Hottentotta conspersus, the Sesriem Scorpion, is a species of scorpion of the family Buthidae.
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.