Anuroctonus pococki, also known as the California swollen-stinger scorpion, is a species of scorpion of the family Chactidae. It is native to the coast ranges of Southern California, and into Baja California in North America.[1][2] This is the only scorpion from the genus Anuroctonus in Baja California.[3] This scorpion, at 65 mm (2.6 in), is large compared to other scorpions found in the region.[4]
| Anuroctonus pococki | |
|---|---|
| |
| San Onofre State Beach, San Diego County, 2023 | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | Chactidae |
| Genus: | Anuroctonus |
| Species: | A. pococki
|
| Binomial name | |
| Anuroctonus pococki Soleglad & Fet, 2004
| |
These scorpions have very large, black-tipped claws, and a "swollen region just before the stinger" on their telsons, most prominent in mature males.[5][4] California swollen-stinger scorpions are nocturnal ambush predators who mostly wait in their burrows for bypassing prey species. Females dig burrows up to 60 cm (24 in) deep, while burrows created by males are usually 15–20 cm (5.9–7.9 in) underground.[4]
This scorpion was first formally named in 2004.[6]
Stings from the mildly venomous California swollenstinger scorpion are rare.[4] They are usually painful but non-serious and resolve after 24 hours; however, in some cases stings may pose serious health problems in the very young or old, and professional medical attention is recommended for anyone stung by a scorpion.[5]
Taxonomy
editAnuroctonus pococki contains the following subspecies:
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Anuroctonus pococki (California Swollenstinger Scorpion)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
- ^ Cowles, Jillian (2018-06-12). Amazing Arachnids. Princeton University Press. p. 46. ISBN 978-0-691-17658-1.
- ^ Santibáñez-López, Carlos; Francke, Oscar; Ureta, Carolina; Possani, Lourival (2015-12-24). "Scorpions from Mexico: From Species Diversity to Venom Complexity". Toxins. 8 (1): 2. doi:10.3390/toxins8010002. ISSN 2072-6651. PMC 4728524. PMID 26712787.
- ^ a b c d Hogue, Charles L.; Hogue, James N. (2015). Insects of the Los Angeles Basin (3rd ed.). Los Angeles: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. pp. 380–381. ISBN 978-0938644-44-6. OCLC 910654655.
- ^ a b "Scorpions" (PDF). Orange County Vector Control District. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
- ^ "Anuroctonus pococki Soleglad & Fet, 2004". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
External links
edit
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