Black Judaicus Scorpion

Black Judaicus Scorpion / Hottentotta judaicus / عقرب أسود

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The Black Judaicus scorpion belongs to the Buthidae family in the Scorpiones (scorpions) order, of the Arachnida (arachnids) class. The Black Judaicus scorpion is a medium sized scorpion, with thin metasoma ("tail") and slender pedipalps ("pincers"). The venom vesicule is as wide as the metasoma. This species may reach up to 80mm, and juvenile specimen look just like the adults. Their back is heavily granulated, noticeably more than any other species in the area. they are fast moving scorpions, and known to be great climbers. Hence so, the Judaicus Scorpion can be found on trees (in between the tree and the bark), as well as while entering high apartments. This is one of the species that tends to enter, unintentionally, to human residences. Another special behavioral feature (compared to most of the local species) is that the Judaicus Scorpion is known to hibernate communally. The reason for the phenomenon is yet to be completely clear and most of the specimen will hibernate solitarily, but this species had been found grouping in between barks to the trees in impressive numbers (from very few ones up to 20 and more, under the same bark). The venom of this species is considered to be non-life threatening, although it causes severe, sharp pain and might cause temporal disruptions on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. The Judaicus Scorpion can be identified by its overall black (or very dark brown to black) coloration with brown ends of the walking legs and fingers, as well as thin metasoma ("tail") and slender pedipalps ("pincers"). The venom vesicule is as wide as the metasoma, and its body is heavily granulated. Those features indicates it from the Fat-Talied Scorpions (Androctonus sp.) - the Black Fat-Tailed Scorpion and the Arab Fat-Tailed Scorpion, that shows a massive metasoma ("tail"), and much smaller, waterdrop-shaped vesicule – which is thinner than their metasoma, and much smoother body - in spite of the Judaicus Scorpion. The judaicus scorpion also lacks the easly-noticeable Androctonus genus metasomal cut, a slit on the 4th metasomal segment, which looks like it was roundly peeled by an art-knife, and has a much lighter, gentle one. The Judaicus Scorpion genus scientific name, "Hottentotta", probably have something with the Khoekhoe group of peoples, which Dutch settlers in Africa labled as "Hottentots". The species name "judaicus" derived from the type locality. This scorpion tends to escape at the first time when disturbed, but in some cases – it will readily sting. This is a hot tempered, fast scorpion that would generally try to sprint – but won't hesitate to sting when threatened. The Judaicus Scorpion (Hottentotta judaicus) is distributed in Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Turkey.
In Palestine – relatively common, and can be found in population concentrations where this species is distributed. It mainly found on Mediterranean, mountainous areas, and found on basalt, terra rossa, rendzina, and more, excluding sand dunes. In general, this species will not be found in places with less than 350-400mm annual rainfall.