when I first came here I pulled together some information on the risks you could face in teh desert and when fishing
the following info is on the scorpions
Leiurus quinquestriatus
Identification
Family: Buthidae
Scientific Names: Androctonus quinquestriatus (in part), Buthus quinquestriatus, Leiurus sp.
Common Names: The death stalker, five-striped desert scorpion, Israeli yellow scorpion, yellow scorpion
Description
Medium-sized scorpion, adults up to 90 mm long. Body usually pale yellow-brownish (sometimes w/ greenish tinge), cephalothorax darker (brownish or gray-brown) than legs & post-abdomen, 5 dorsal longitudinal keels on top of first 2 abdominal segments, 5th post-abdominal segment (next to the telson) distinctly darker than remainder of abdomen & legs. Legs & post-abdomen w/ many strong, erect hairs & spines; pincers relatively long & thin.
Click for Image [1]
Habitat
Mainly found in dry habitats (deserts) on various substrate surfaces but not in loose-sand dunes, & not common near towns, nor near (nor in) houses. Often hide in small natural crevices, burrows, under stones, etc. Widely distributed across northern & central Africa & the Middle East.
Activity and Behavior
Mainly nocturnal, often hunt available prey (insects, arthropods &, occasionally, small lizards) near oases, or along edges of vegetation in desert margin sites. Ovoviviparous, young (usually 20+) hatch inside female's body & crawl out her genital opening. Young often remain w/ female & ride on her back until they are 2nd instars.
Venom Characteristics
Very potent neurotoxin, one of the world's most dangerous scorpions (partly because stings usually occur at locations very remote from necessary supportive medical care). Causes mainly localized reactions, swelling & pain in >90% of stings, but kills several humans annually. Children most severely affected because severity of venom effects are weight-dependent
Scorpio maurus
Identification
Family: Scorpionidae
Scientific Names: [Note: This geographically wide-spread species includes at least 19 currently recognized (named) subspecies, separable mainly via color differences, which vary in their reliability. One subspecies, S. m. palmatus, is of enough human concern (& interest) to be addressed separately.]
Common Names: Large-clawed scorpion, Israeli golden scorpion
Description
Small scorpion, adults usually 40-60 mm long (max. about 80 mm). Color varies from yellow (often w/ greenish tinge) to red-brown to dark brown. Dorsal prosoma smooth, tips of pincers (chelae) & sting (aculeus) usually dark reddish-brown to blackish. Relatively large, relatively short, thick pincers (pedipalpal chelae); relatively small, thin postabdoman (metasoma, or cauda) & stinger.
Click for Image [1]
Habitat
Mainly found in deserts or semi-arid sites, but can also be found in dry (or seasonally dry) forests. Only found where some loose substate (e.g., sandy soil, organic debris) allows it to burrow 20-70 cm deep, often under a larger rock. Usually found in warm locations, but can survive down to 10-15 degrees C.
Activity and Behavior
Terrestrial (but climbs), & mainly nocturnal. Hides in its burrow w/ a slightly enlarged terminal chamber during the day. In some areas, may enter diapause ("hibernate") during cold months. Preys on available insects & other arthropods. Burrows often found in clusters ("colonies"), each scorpion w/ its own burrow. If disturbed, it seldom tries to sting, but very quickly attacks any intruder w/ its claws (pincers).
Venom Characteristics
Relatively mild neurotoxic venom, w/ cytotoxic & hemotoxic factors. Envenomation usually causes moderate to severe local pain, sometimes limited local swelling & redness, which usually resolves in less than 24 hrs. w/ only symptomatic treatment.
Scorpio maurus palmatus
Identification
Family: Scorpionidae
Scientific Names: Scorpio maurus (in part) [ Note: This is only one of at least 19 subspecies of this species, which are distinguishable (to some degree) mainly based on color/ color pattern differences. The morphology & physiology of this subspecies has been rather well-studied, as has the structure, biochemistry, & action of its venom.]
Common Names: Golden desert scorpion, large-clawed yellow scorpion, large-clawed palm scorpion
Description
For a good general physical description, See Scorpio maurus. This subspecies is typically yellow to greenish to pale olive-brown (rarely w/ red-brown tinge).
Click for Image [1]
Habitat
Mainly found in warm, drier (more xeric) or semi-desert habitats, w/ sandy soil, organic debris or other loose, semi-consolidated substrate in which it can construct a burrow 20-70 cm long, usually w/ a slightly enlarged chamber at its end. Mainly found in suitable habitats across northern Africa & the Middle East. May be present in, but not yet reported from, several additional countries (e.g, Mauritania, Oman, Afghanistan, Pakistan).
Activity and Behavior
Mainly nocturnal & terrestrial (actually burrowing, or 'fossorial') but climbs rough surfaces well. Ovoviviparous, litter size varies (8-20+ reported). Preys on available small insects & other arthropods. Tend to congregate in many closely-clustered burrows ("colonies") in rather small suitable sites. Readily & aggressively attacks any intruder w/ its claws, but seldom attempts to sting, except to subdue larger prey.
Venom Characteristics
Mildly neurotoxic, w/ cytotoxic & possibly hemotoxic factors; usually causes only local pain, slight swelling & redness at sting site. No human fatalities reported. Maurotoxin, a new type of toxin w/ 4 disulfide bridges, was first isolated from specimens of this subspecies from northern Africa (Tunisia). This represented a new class of natural biologic toxins which have since been extensively characterized & studied, mainly in European labs.
when I first came here I pulled together some information on the risks you could face in teh desert and when fishing
the following info is on the scorpions
Leiurus quinquestriatus
Identification
Family: Buthidae
Scientific Names: Androctonus quinquestriatus (in part), Buthus quinquestriatus, Leiurus sp.
Common Names: The death stalker, five-striped desert scorpion, Israeli yellow scorpion, yellow scorpion
Description
Medium-sized scorpion, adults up to 90 mm long. Body usually pale yellow-brownish (sometimes w/ greenish tinge), cephalothorax darker (brownish or gray-brown) than legs & post-abdomen, 5 dorsal longitudinal keels on top of first 2 abdominal segments, 5th post-abdominal segment (next to the telson) distinctly darker than remainder of abdomen & legs. Legs & post-abdomen w/ many strong, erect hairs & spines; pincers relatively long & thin.
Click for Image [1]
Habitat
Mainly found in dry habitats (deserts) on various substrate surfaces but not in loose-sand dunes, & not common near towns, nor near (nor in) houses. Often hide in small natural crevices, burrows, under stones, etc. Widely distributed across northern & central Africa & the Middle East.
Activity and Behavior
Mainly nocturnal, often hunt available prey (insects, arthropods &, occasionally, small lizards) near oases, or along edges of vegetation in desert margin sites. Ovoviviparous, young (usually 20+) hatch inside female's body & crawl out her genital opening. Young often remain w/ female & ride on her back until they are 2nd instars.
Venom Characteristics
Very potent neurotoxin, one of the world's most dangerous scorpions (partly because stings usually occur at locations very remote from necessary supportive medical care). Causes mainly localized reactions, swelling & pain in >90% of stings, but kills several humans annually. Children most severely affected because severity of venom effects are weight-dependent
Scorpio maurus
Identification
Family: Scorpionidae
Scientific Names: [Note: This geographically wide-spread species includes at least 19 currently recognized (named) subspecies, separable mainly via color differences, which vary in their reliability. One subspecies, S. m. palmatus, is of enough human concern (& interest) to be addressed separately.]
Common Names: Large-clawed scorpion, Israeli golden scorpion
Description
Small scorpion, adults usually 40-60 mm long (max. about 80 mm). Color varies from yellow (often w/ greenish tinge) to red-brown to dark brown. Dorsal prosoma smooth, tips of pincers (chelae) & sting (aculeus) usually dark reddish-brown to blackish. Relatively large, relatively short, thick pincers (pedipalpal chelae); relatively small, thin postabdoman (metasoma, or cauda) & stinger.
Click for Image [1]
Habitat
Mainly found in deserts or semi-arid sites, but can also be found in dry (or seasonally dry) forests. Only found where some loose substate (e.g., sandy soil, organic debris) allows it to burrow 20-70 cm deep, often under a larger rock. Usually found in warm locations, but can survive down to 10-15 degrees C.
Activity and Behavior
Terrestrial (but climbs), & mainly nocturnal. Hides in its burrow w/ a slightly enlarged terminal chamber during the day. In some areas, may enter diapause ("hibernate") during cold months. Preys on available insects & other arthropods. Burrows often found in clusters ("colonies"), each scorpion w/ its own burrow. If disturbed, it seldom tries to sting, but very quickly attacks any intruder w/ its claws (pincers).
Venom Characteristics
Relatively mild neurotoxic venom, w/ cytotoxic & hemotoxic factors. Envenomation usually causes moderate to severe local pain, sometimes limited local swelling & redness, which usually resolves in less than 24 hrs. w/ only symptomatic treatment.
Scorpio maurus palmatus
Identification
Family: Scorpionidae
Scientific Names: Scorpio maurus (in part) [ Note: This is only one of at least 19 subspecies of this species, which are distinguishable (to some degree) mainly based on color/ color pattern differences. The morphology & physiology of this subspecies has been rather well-studied, as has the structure, biochemistry, & action of its venom.]
Common Names: Golden desert scorpion, large-clawed yellow scorpion, large-clawed palm scorpion
Description
For a good general physical description, See Scorpio maurus. This subspecies is typically yellow to greenish to pale olive-brown (rarely w/ red-brown tinge).
Click for Image [1]
Habitat
Mainly found in warm, drier (more xeric) or semi-desert habitats, w/ sandy soil, organic debris or other loose, semi-consolidated substrate in which it can construct a burrow 20-70 cm long, usually w/ a slightly enlarged chamber at its end. Mainly found in suitable habitats across northern Africa & the Middle East. May be present in, but not yet reported from, several additional countries (e.g, Mauritania, Oman, Afghanistan, Pakistan).
Activity and Behavior
Mainly nocturnal & terrestrial (actually burrowing, or 'fossorial') but climbs rough surfaces well. Ovoviviparous, litter size varies (8-20+ reported). Preys on available small insects & other arthropods. Tend to congregate in many closely-clustered burrows ("colonies") in rather small suitable sites. Readily & aggressively attacks any intruder w/ its claws, but seldom attempts to sting, except to subdue larger prey.
Venom Characteristics
Mildly neurotoxic, w/ cytotoxic & possibly hemotoxic factors; usually causes only local pain, slight swelling & redness at sting site. No human fatalities reported. Maurotoxin, a new type of toxin w/ 4 disulfide bridges, was first isolated from specimens of this subspecies from northern Africa (Tunisia). This represented a new class of natural biologic toxins which have since been extensively characterized & studied, mainly in European labs.