Dark Large-Clawed Scorpion

The Dark Large-Clawed Scorpion belongs to the Scorpionidae family in the Scorpiones (scorpions) order, of the Arachnida (arachnids) class. The Dark Large-Clawed Scorpion is considered to be one of the harmless scorpion species in the area. Its sting is often compared to a honey bee sting: it causes ephemeral, very light, local pain that fades within few minutes, and harmless to the non-allergic human being. The adult females of this species may reach about 80mm, depends in the local population – but often reaches 60-70mm. The color of this species may vary from black to gray or brownish body, with lighter walking legs and brown to black pedipalps ("pincers"). The metasoma ("tail") is thin, and pedipalps are very thick and bulged - but round and without the strong ridge that makes the pedipalp hand to have a "diamond shape" look - as the other dark, large pedipalped species in the area (Jericho Scorpion, Nebo hierichonticus) shows. Those characteristics, among the lack of a tubercle nearby its stinger (subaculear tubercle), can defenately distinguish it from any other, black or dark colored scorpion in the area. Its genus scientific name was derived from Latin: "Scorpio" – that stads for scoprion, and "fuscus", which stands for dark. The Dark Large-Clawed Scorpion is well known to live in burrows with an oval entrance that starts horizontally, and few centimeters afterwards they go straight down. The burrow might have some twists but the main direction is downwards, and the scorpion lives in little space on its end. Hence so, those scorpions are well known to hunt from an ambush position, as they "sit and wait" on the entrance of their burrow for a prey to come over. Although this species is known as great burrower, it can be found also under stones and other objects on the ground. The adult females are bigger than the males and show a glossy back, as the males are smaller and have matt look. The subadult specimen are all glossy. The Dark Large-Clawed Scorpion have a variety of behavioral patterns and might be docile or act like a hot tempered species as well – but they are known for being relatively slow, due to their heavy, massive (relatively to their size) shape, and short walking legs. They can sting over and over as they stay in the same spot, escape, or not even react in some rare cases – but will mainly use their large, strong pincers to defend themselves. If they are kept being provoked, they sometimes use both pincers as a shield, which buffers and separates their body from the predator. Whenever they can, if they sit in the entrance of their burrow or other shelter, they will go down quickly as they feel any big creature passes from few steps away. The Dark Large-Clawed Scorpion (Scorpio fuscus) is distributed in* Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Turkey. Within its distribution area, it is very common. In Palestine – it is common in the north part of the country, and well known for its preference to Mediterranean areas; This species can be found in mountainous areas, terra rossa, basalt, and more, variety of soils. It can be found north to the Judean mountains, excluding the desert and arid areas of Palestine. 

*Note: recent biogeographic, molecular and morphological researches are suggesting that in some of the close countries, Scorpio species specimen were misidentified and could be a related or a similar species. Hence so, distribution data should be completed as the
researches will.