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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Buthidae

Durango Scorpion
Centruroides suffusus

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Centruroides suffusus

Centruroides suffusus female from east-southeastern Durango. Photograph courtesy of Kari McWest.

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Physical Characteristics

Yellow to tan with two broad, dark longitudinal stripes on the upper side of the abdomen. Slender pincers and a long, slender tail are characteristic. The pigment on the carapace is similar to that of Centruroides vittatus, but is suffuse (hence the name) toward the lateral margins.

Habitat

Centruroides suffusus is often found under rocks, boards, and in detritus.

Geographic Range

The Mexican states of Durango.

Diet

Centruroides suffusus, like the other members of the Buthidae, eats other arthropods. Included in its diet are spiders, solfugids, other scorpions, and an array of insect prey.

Remarks

The sting can cause severe local and systemic symptoms. The sting of this species is one of the few that can actually cause death even in healthy, adult humans.

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Literature Cited

Polis, G. A. 1990. The biology of scorpions. Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA

Web Resources

Scorpions of the Chihuahuan Desert

Scorpions of Texas

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Aaron Bodor, June 2006.

A.H. Harris: Last Update, 4 Jul 2006.