Androctonus australis
Androctonus australis
Androctonus australis is a scorpion of the family of Buthidae. The species is widespread across much of North Africa and South Asia. A. australis is one of the most poisonous scorpions at all and caused several deaths each year. The poison is as strong as that of a Black Mamba.
Etymology
Androctonus australis: AltGr. ἀνδρός, genitive of ἀνήρ ( accepted ) = 'man', κτείνω ( kteino ) =, kill ' ( abgelautet and latinized to - ctonus ), Latin australis, south '.
Appearance
A. australis counts with a total length up to 100 mm to the large species of the genus Androctonus. The animals are a total straw - yellow to ocher. The prosoma has distinct keels and is also strongly granulated. The sternites of the mesosoma are pale yellow. The tergites of very vigorous and thick tail ( metasoma ) are strongly broadened backward, the tergites 1-4 are yellowish, the ventral ( anterior ) quills brownish. Tergite 5 is darker. The poison sac is blackish, the base of the poison sting reddish, brownish tip of the spike. The legs are pale yellow, the pedipalps yellow ocher. The bases of the Scissorhands ( Chela mani ) are plump, fingers quite long. The cutting edges of both fingers have 12 to 14 rows of teeth. The comb organ ( Pecten ) has the female 22-26, in the male 30-36 teeth.
Distribution, habitat and way of life
The distribution area is saharo - Indian. It covers large parts of North Africa from Mauritania to Somalia and the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan and India.
A. australis inhabits arid habitats such as semi-deserts and deserts and adheres to the day in sand, soil or under stones and in walls, it is therefore regularly encountered in populated areas. The art is considered very aggressive. A. australis is one of the most poisonous scorpions at all and caused several deaths each year.