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Urodacus armatus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Urodacus armatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Urodacidae
Genus: Urodacus
Species:
U. armatus
Binomial name
Urodacus armatus
Pocock, 1888[1]
Synonyms
  • Urodacus granifrons Pocock, 1898
  • Urodacus woodwardii Pocock, 1893

Urodacus armatus, also known as the yellow sand scorpion or inland desert scorpion, is a species of scorpion in the Urodacidae family. It is native to Australia. It was first described in 1888 by British zoologist Reginald Innes Pocock.[1]

Description

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The species grows to 30–60 mm in length. Colouring is usually light sandy with dark red leg joints.[2]

Distribution and habitat

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The species is found over much of arid inland Australia on a variety of soils.[2]

Behaviour

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The scorpions build short burrows and hunt small invertebrates through both active foraging and by ambushing their prey from the branches and foliage of low vegetation.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Pocock, R.I. (1888). "The species of the genus Urodacus contained in the collection of the British (Natural-History) Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 6. 2 (8): 169–175. doi:10.1080/00222938809460897.
  2. ^ a b c Mark A. Newton (2016). "Urodacus armatus". The Spiral Burrow – Australian Scorpions. Retrieved 7 February 2023.