Dune scorpion | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Scorpiones |
Family: | Vaejovidae |
Genus: | Smeringurus |
Species: | S. mesaensis
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Binomial name | |
Smeringurus mesaensis (Stahnke, 1957)
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Smeringurus mesaensis, also known as the dune scorpion or giant sand scorpion, is a species of scorpion in the family Vaejovidae. [1] It is common in the deserts of the southwestern United States. [2]
The dune scorpion is approximately 72 mm in length and 2.0 g in mass. [3]
Smeringurus mesaensis is fossorial and solitary, though young will aggregate shortly after dispersing from their mother. Females of this species are typically larger than males, [4] with males traveling to find females during mating season. [5] They are nocturnal creatures, active between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., accounting for their daytime invisibility. [6]