Centruroides limpidus
| Centruroides limpidus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | Buthidae |
| Genus: | Centruroides |
| Species: | C. limpidus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Centruroides limpidus Karsch, 1879
| |
Centruroides limpidus, the Morelos scorpion, is a scorpion in the Buthidae family. It is one of the most venomous scorpions in Mexico.[1]
Description
The Morelos scorpion is part of the "striped" group within the bark scorpion genus. It's a medium sized scorpion with a yellow to brown color and has two stripes running down its body (mesosoma), which can be up to 7 centimeters long.[2] Males have between 22 and 26 pectinal teeth, while females have between 20 and 23.[3] Males are also have a thinner stature while the females have a broader mesosoma.[2]
Striped bark scorpions can be hard to distinguish from one another.[4] C. limpidus is distinguished from the visually similar C. infamatus by the four distinct stripes running the length of its head (cephalothorax).[5][6] Further, the pectinal plate of C. limpidus is more squarish with a dimple whereas the on C. infamatus it is more rectangular and without a dimple.[5]
C. limpidus can also be distinguished from C. tecomanus by the small subaculear tooth on the bulb of its stinger (aculeus).[7] Although C. limpidus is visually similar to C. tecomanus, phylogenetic research has shown that the two are genetically distinct.[7]
Etymology
The species name limpidus was given by German arachnologist Ferdinand Karsch and means "clear" or "transparent" in Latin. The genus name Centruroides comes from the Greek words kentron, meaning "point" or "sting," and oura, meaning "tail," and is in reference to the subaculear tooth characteristic of the genus.
Ecology and behavior
Centruroides limpidus is primarily found in warm, dry habitats across central Mexico, often in close proximity with humans.[8] In their natural habitat, C. limpidus shelter under rocks, in cracks in the ground, and under loose bark. These locations are also their refuge when the weather gets too hot or too cold.[3]
Distribution
Centruroides limpidus is endemic to Mexico and can be found in Guanajuato,[3] Guerrero, México, Mexico City, Michoacán, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro,[7][6] Tlaxcala,[9] and Veracruz[5].
Diet
Centruroides limpidus primarily eats invertebrates.
Reproduction
Like all scorpions, Centruroides limpidus gives birth to live young (viviparous) and can reproduce year round.[3] It is common for the females to have multiple broods per year.[2] Broods can be between 20 and 50 per birth.[3]
Toxicology
Centruroides limpidus is a medically significant scorpion.
References
- ^ Santibáñez-López, Carlos E.; Francke, Oscar F.; Ureta, Carolina; Possani, Lourival D. (2016). "Scorpions from Mexico: From Species Diversity to Venom Complexity". Toxins.
- ^ a b c "Centruroides limpidus limpidus". Redtox (in Spanish). 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
- ^ a b c d e Ponce Saavedra, Javier; Francke B., Oscar F. (July 2013). "Clave para la identificación de especies de alacranes del género Centruroides Marx 1890 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) en el Centro Occidente de México" (PDF). Biológicas. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-06-17.
- ^ Ponce Saavedra, Javier; Moreno Barajas, Rocío J. (November 2005). "El género Centruroides Marx 1890 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) en México" (PDF). Biológicas.
- ^ a b c De Armas, Luis F (January 2008). "El género Centruroides Marx, 1890 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) en el estado de Veracruz, México". Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa.
- ^ a b Francke B., Óscar F.; Ponce Saavedra, Javier; Hernández Calderón, Erasto; Cano Camacho, Horacio (April 2009). "Evidencias morfológicas y moleculares que validan como especie a Centruroides tecomanus (Scorpiones, Buthidae)". Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad.
- ^ a b c Towler, William Ian (2002-01-01). Phylogenetic Structure of Two Central Mexican Centruroides Species Complexes (Master of Science thesis). Marshall University. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
- ^ Cid-Uribe, Jomena I.; Meneses, Erika P.; Batista, Cesar V. F.; Ortiz, Ernesto; Possani, Lourival D. (2019). "Dissecting Toxicity: The Venom Gland Transcriptome and the Venom Proteome of the Highly Venomous Scorpion Centruroides limpidus (Karsch, 1879)". Toxins.
- ^ Hernández-Hernández, Verónica; Meza-Castillo, Yuriria; Vidal-Acosta, Vianey; Dávalos-Becerril, Eduardo; Correa-Morales, Fabián (11 April 2024). "First Report of Centruroides limpidus in Tlaxcala, Mexico". Southwestern Entomologist.