Arabian fat-tailed scorpion

The Arabian fat-tailed scorpion (Androctonus crassicauda) is a species of dangerous scorpion usually found in North Africa and the Middle East.

Arabian fat-tailed scorpion
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Scorpiones
Family:	Buthidae
Genus:	Androctonus
Species:	A. crassicauda
Binomial name
Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807)

Description

A. crassicauda is a generalist desert species,[1] an Old World scorpion.[2] Adults can vary in colour from a light brown to reddish to blackish-brown, to black. They can grow to over 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in length.[1][3]

Distribution

This species is found mainly in the Palaearctic region. It is commonly found in such countries as Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Iran, Turkey,[4] and in north African nations.[5][1]

Habitat

A. crassicauda lives in the ruins of old, neglected structures,[1] and was considered a major hazard for troops during the whole Persian Gulf conflict due to its very potent and fatal venom, throughout the area of the war.[3]

Antivenom

Antivenom produced by this species has been used in Turkey to treat all scorpion stings since 1942.[2]

References

1. "Euscorpius" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-12-05.
2. "Dear Editor" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2011-12-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. "Euscorpius" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-12-05.
5. "WRBU Scorpion Identification". Wrbu.si.edu. Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2011-12-05.