Scorpions
Scorpions as Pets – an Overview of their Care
Jan 26th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. I can’t remember a time when scorpions did not fascinate me, and their lure grows stronger with each new species I encounter. In the past, I’ve written on the care and natural history of Emperor, Flat Rock, Asian Forest and other popular scorpions. Today I’d like to present a general overview. I hope it will help you to decide if a scorpion is the right choice for you and if so, how to get started.
What’s in Store for Scorpion Fans
Among the world’s 2,000+ scorpion species we find an astonishing diversity of fascinating creatures, many of which make hardy pets that adjust well to small enclosures. Several reproduce readily in captivity – lucky scorpion keepers may even be treated to the sight of a female feeding her offspring with crickets! At least 15 species are established in the pet trade, and specialists are working with several others. More >
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Loading ...Treating Sick and Injured Emperor Scorpions
Jul 29th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Reptile and amphibian keepers know how hard it is to find veterinary care for their pets, but those who keep scorpions face even greater difficulties. I found one or two vets willing to experiment while working at the Bronx Zoo, but in private practice your options are just about non-existent. What little we do know has resulted from trial and error, and is constantly evolving.
Pre-dating the dinosaurs, scorpions are a hardy lot, and rarely present us with health problems (at least any that we can identify). Spiders are a bit more prone to illness and injury, and some fine work has been done by private keepers (virtually none by vets, however). Much of what follows is drawn from conversations with spider keepers, and from my own and others experiments in scorpion health care. In this regard, Sam Marshall’s chapter on spider first aid in his fine book Tarantulas and Other Arachnids is a must read for scorpion fans. More >
(+1 rating, 1 votes) Loading ...World’s Largest Arachnids – Eight-Foot-Long Scorpions of Ancient Seas
Jul 19th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. While the Emperor Scorpion and the South African Flat Rock Scorpion are, by today’s standards, huge and impressive, they pale in comparison to their extinct relatives. Imagine, if you will, an 8-foot-long scorpion sporting spiked claws that extended 2 feet from its body! Well, thanks to newly uncovered fossil evidence, we need not imagine so hard – such fantastic beasts did indeed exist. Known as Sea Scorpions or Pterygotid Eurypterids, some, such as Acutiramus, were larger than a person!
Natural History
Sea Scorpions are the ancestors of modern-day scorpions, and perhaps of all Arachnids. Pre-dating the dinosaurs, they emerged approximately 470 million years ago, and roamed the seas (and fresh waters) for over 100 million years. More >
(-1 rating, 1 votes) Loading ...Invertebrate Health – Mites in Scorpion, Millipede and Tarantula Terrariums
Apr 2nd
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m often contacted by Arachnid and millipede owners who are concerned about the tiny white “specks” that they notice crawling about their terrariums and on their pets. In almost all cases, the little beasts turn out to be relatively harmless Mites. Mites are actually Arachnids, related to spiders and scorpions, and are unique in the incredible diversity they have attained – over 45,000 species have been described, with many more than that likely remaining to be “discovered”. More >
(+2 rating, 2 votes) Loading ...Research Update – Medically Useful Proteins Found in Scorpion Venom
Sep 18th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Scorpion venom has recently undergone an image upgrade…once feared, these little-studied toxins are now yielding valuable medicines. Researchers at China’s Wuhan University have recently (August, 2009) discovered 9 new types of peptides and proteins in the venom of Scorpiops jendeki, a scorpion native to southwestern China.
Current Research
Although considered only mildly toxic, S. jendeki’s venom is quite complex, containing at least 19 different proteins. Scientists believe that these molecules may be useful in synthesizing new drugs. Newly discovered molecules, which may attack cells in novel ways, are always looked upon with great interest by medical researchers working with incurable diseases and drug-resistant microbes.
Role for a Deadly Scorpion
In recent years, even the much-maligned “death stalker” or Israeli yellow scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus) is being treated with new respect in the lab – an irradiated version of a protein in its venom shows great promise in the treatment of brain cancer.
Further Reading
You can read more about current research involving scorpion venom and brain cancer at http://www.nano.org.uk/news/april2009/latest1847.htm.
Please write in with your questions and comments. Thanks, until next time, Frank Indiviglio.
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