Arizona Bark Scorpion
Centruroides sculpturatus
This record describes Centruroides sculpturatus (species). Recorded family: Buthidae. Recorded order: Scorpiones.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Scorpiones (Scorpions)
- Family
- Buthidae
- Genus
- Centruroides (Bark Scorpions)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
No real preference. Does not burrow.
Geographic Range
All counties of Arizona, into western New Mexico, southern Utah, southern Nevada to Las Vegas vicinity, and in California only along Colorado River where it is not common. Also in much of Sonora, Mexico.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: "sculpturatus" describes the sculptured appearance of the tergites (dorsal plates). "exilicauda" is for the elongation of the male metasoma (tail).
About Scorpions: the wider group
Order-level background for Scorpiones, the group containing Centruroides sculpturatus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Scorpiones includes ~2,700 described species. Scorpions are among the oldest terrestrial arthropods, with fossils dating back 435 million years to the Silurian period. They glow under ultraviolet light due to fluorescent compounds in their exoskeleton.
Ecological role of the group
Scorpions can survive extreme conditions - some species can be frozen for weeks and recover, and others survive extended starvation by reducing their metabolic rate by up to 97%. They are important desert predators controlling insect populations.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Scorpion stings cause an estimated 1.2 million envenomations and 3,250 deaths worldwide annually (WHO). Scorpion venom is the most expensive liquid on Earth at $39 million per gallon - it contains compounds being researched for cancer treatment and as painkillers.
Recorded sources for this group: WHO, National Geographic, medical research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Arizona Bark Scorpion (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kari J McWest; Additional contributions by kschnei