''Mastigoproctus colombianus'' is a
whip scorpion
Thelyphonida is an arachnid order comprising invertebrates commonly known as whip scorpions or vinegaroons (also spelled vinegarroons and vinegarones). They are often called uropygids in the scientific community based on an alternative name for ...
species found in
Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
,
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...
, near west deserts areas.
Description
''Mastigoproctus colombianus'' range from in length. Color brown and red-end legs.
Like the related orders
Schizomida
Schizomida (common name shorttailed whipscorpion) is an order of arachnids, generally less than in length.
The order is not yet widely studied. About 300 species of schizomids have been described worldwide, most belonging to the Hubbardiidae fa ...
,
Amblypygi
Amblypygi is an ancient order of arachnid chelicerate arthropods also known as African cave-dwelling spiders, whip spiders and tailless whip scorpions (not to be confused with whip scorpions or vinegaroons that belong to the related order Thelyph ...
and
Solifugae
Solifugae is an order of animals in the class Arachnida known variously as camel spiders, wind scorpions, sun spiders, or solifuges. The order includes more than 1,000 described species in about 147 genera. Despite the common names, they are ne ...
,
uropygids use only six legs for walking, having modified their first two legs to serve as antennae-like sensory organs. Whip scorpions have no
venom
Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...
glands, but they do have glands near the rear of their abdomen that can spray a combination of
acetic acid
Acetic acid , systematically named ethanoic acid , is an acidic, colourless liquid and organic compound with the chemical formula (also written as , , or ). Vinegar is at least 4% acetic acid by volume, making acetic acid the main component ...
and
octanoic acid
Caprylic acid (), also known under the Preferred IUPAC name, systematic name octanoic acid or C8 Acid, is a saturated fatty acid, medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA). It has the structural formula , and is a colorless oily liquid that is minimally sol ...
when they are bothered.
The acetic acid gives this spray a vinegar-like smell, giving rise to the common name ''vinegaroon''.
Behaviour
Whip scorpions are
carnivorous
A carnivore , or meat-eater (Latin, ''caro'', genitive ''carnis'', meaning meat or "flesh" and ''vorare'' meaning "to devour"), is an animal or plant whose food and energy requirements derive from animal tissues (mainly muscle, fat and other sof ...
, nocturnal hunters feeding mostly on
insect
Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body ( head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs ...
s and
millipede
Millipedes are a group of arthropods that are characterised by having two pairs of jointed legs on most body segments; they are known scientifically as the class Diplopoda, the name derived from this feature. Each double-legged segment is a resu ...
s,
but sometimes on worms and slugs.
Habitat
''Mastigoproctus colombianus'' are found in
tropical
The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in
the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...
and
subtropical
The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Geographical z ...
areas of Colombia. They usually dig burrows with their pedipalps, to which they transport their prey.
They may also burrow under logs, rotting wood, rocks, and other natural debris. They enjoy humid, dark places and avoid the light.
See also
*
List of Thelyphonidae species
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3298106
Scorpions of South America
Arthropods of Colombia
Endemic fauna of Colombia
Animals described in 1940
Thelyphonida