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"Fat-tailed Man-killer" - for Hayati


Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5085 W: 178 N: 12389] (33819)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-05
Categories: Insects
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Exposure: f/3.2, 1/30 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Arthropods, Bayram's Dedications-II [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-09-22 0:29
Viewed: 3049
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 70
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Androctonus crassicauda ("Fat-tailed Man-killer" or Black Fat-tailed Scorpion)

Today a shot from my archive, a Black Fat-tailed Scorpion which I encountered with it during our herpetological trip to SE Anatolia in this year. I think this is the first shot of the species from Turkey on TN.

I would like dedicate this photo to one of our kind friends and great nature photographer, Hayati Keser (Hay_kes) from Turkey for his kind interest my captures and in thanks for his lovely dedication to me with a beautiful macro shot of a Bush Cricket. Thank you Hayati for the lovely dedication once more.

Hoping you can like this shot!
TFL!
Cheers,

Bayram

PS. Thanks a lot to Mr. Ersen YAĞMUR who is one of the PhD Candidate studying on Turkish Scorpion Fauna in our University for ID confirmation!

*****************************

Fattail scorpion or fat-tailed scorpion is the common name given to scorpions of the genus Androctonus, which is one of the most dangerous groups of scorpion species in the world. They are found throughout the semi-arid and arid regions of the Middle-East and Africa. They are a moderate sized scorpion, attaining lengths of 10 cm . Their name is derived from their distinctly fat metasoma, or tail. Their venom contains powerful neurotoxins and is especially potent. Stings from Androctonus species are known to cause several human deaths each year.

Androctonus is widespread in the Middle East and North Africa. Countries where Androctonus species live include: Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, South Eastern Africa.

A rough English translation of the name Androctonus is "man-killer", from the Greek andras (άνδρας), meaning "man" and kteinein (κτείνειν), meaning "killing". crassicauda means fat-tailed, from the Latin crassus meaning "thick" or "fat" and cauda, meaning "tail". Androctonus crassicauda is wide-spread throughout the middle east and its name means "fat-tailed man-killer".

The Black Fat-tailed Scorpion or Fat-tailed Man-Killer is one of the 25 species of truly dangerous scorpions, and is not recommended for anyone aside from highly experienced scientists and hobbyists.

This species is in the top three of scorpions with extremely virulent venom. They are currently listed as number 1 on the LD-50 chart. Some authorities report a sting from a Black Fat-tailed Scorpion can kill an adult human in seven hours. Reactions vary considerably, but children are especially vulnerable and this is not a species to be considered for any household where children are present. Also consult your local authorities regarding whether permission is required to keep venomous animals.

Despite its common name, the Black Fat-tailed Scorpion varies considerably in color, from olive brown to reddish brown to slate gray to black. A small, isolated population in Egypt is abnormally pale (hence the name Egyptian Gold Fat-tailed Scorpion). Accurate identification can only be made by experienced professionals who recognize the characteristic sculpturing on the scorpion's terminal "tail" segments. Mature specimens can attain 150 mm (4 inches) in length. As with many other members of the family Buthidae, the pincers of the Black Fat-tailed are relatively small and weak, while the tail and sting are abnormally stout and muscular.

The Black Fat-tailed Scorpion is especially abundant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where it is considered a significant health threat, often occurring near human habitations. Desert, and desert scrub, is the preferred habitat. They are nocturnal, venturing out from burrows, or beneath rocks, boards, and other debris to hunt insects and small vertebrates at night. This may be the species referred to in a Persian legend that has scorpions sent by the devil to sting the testicles of the sacred bull, preventing the fertilization of the universe. More recently, soldiers in the Gulf War suffered from the stings of the Black Fat-tailed Scorpion, especially when they staged "scorpion fights" as entertainment. Ironically, the study of scorpion venoms has yielded a drug that is helpful to stroke victims!

References:

1. Wikipedia.
2. CentralPets-Androctonus crassicauda.
Juyona, gpeler, nkasot, cypturk, mariki, haraprasan, ammodytes, montivipera, sandpiper2, siggi, NinaM, Silvio2006, nglen, jaycee, Gert-Paassen, flashpoint, cicindela, yasemin, jpdenk, goldyrs, zulfu, xTauruSx, bahadir has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To jaycee: :)boreocypriensis 2 09-22 12:07
To Dave: Hi & Thanksboreocypriensis 1 09-22 11:35
To Hay_kes: Hayati beyboreocypriensis 1 09-22 05:08
To montivipera: Sağol Naşitboreocypriensis 1 09-22 04:04
To ammodytes: Teşekkürboreocypriensis 1 09-22 03:55
To haraprasan: Hi friendboreocypriensis 1 09-22 03:27
To gpeler: :)boreocypriensis 1 09-22 03:14
To betsie: Hi Betsieboreocypriensis 1 09-22 03:14
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2262 W: 10 N: 2630] (15565)
  • [2008-09-22 0:42]

Hola Bay,
bello trabajo y dedicatoria.
selecto pov. El temido escorpión,
precioso disparo,
saludos amigo.

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-09-22 0:46]

Hello Bayram, Greetings from Singapore. Nice shot and good note. Daring shot and good lighting. Good composition. Ganesh

Hi Bayram
You very VERY brave to take this photo. This is a very nasty guy!!

Merhaba Bayram Abi,
Bu türün Kıbrısta olmamasına çok sevindim:) Çok güzel detayları olan bir fotoğraf. Ellerinize sağlık. İyi bir hafta geçirmeniz dileğiyle.
Selamlar
Gamze:)

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2008-09-22 1:14]

Hi Bayram,

A fine capture of this scorpion,with good colors and detail,tfs this scorpion,

Paul

Selam Bayram hocam, adı da kendi gibi ürkütücü. gerçekten cesaret işi bu ve sizde de yeterince var:). Elinize sağlık.
Nazım

Meraba Bayram Bey,
Hayati için güzel bir jest, bu akrebin Türkiye'den ilk karesi olması da özel bir durum, zoolog olduğunuza göre bilmediklerimiz konusunda yardımınıza baş vururuz artık :)
Elinize sağlık
Selnur

Hi Dayi,

Excellent close-up shot of this huge, man-killer scorpion with wonderful sharpness and lighting. Great notes too. tfs...

cypturk

Hello Bayram,

Excellent capture of this Scorpion. Great detail. Good exposure and natural colours. Not an animal I would like to see close to me.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hi Bayram,
A nice capture of this man killer. Very well composed with sharp details. It would have been more nice if the tail also in focus. Many thanks for sharing this my friend.

Merhaba Hocam, hayatım boyunca sadece ıkı kez karsılaşmış olmama ragmen en korktuğum hayvanlar akrepler nedense:S :D 3. sınıfta yakaladığım zamanı haturlıyorum da, herhalde hıc bı zaman o korktuğumu hıssetmemişimdir:D Paylaşım için tesekkuler Hocam, elınıze sağlık.
Sevgı ve saygılarımla

Fİliz

Merhaba Hocam,
Enfes bir türü çok güzel fotoğraflamışsınız, elinize sağlık. Bir hayvan ne kadar zehirli (ve de tehlikeli) ise beni de o kadar fazla cezbediyor:) Paylaşım için teşekkürler.
Saygılar,
Naşit.

Merhaba Bayram Hocam,
Bu ince jestiniz için çok çok teşekkür ederim.Onur duydum.harika bir makro çalışma.Elinize sağlık.
Selam ve saygılar..

hAyAti

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4716] (16222)
  • [2008-09-22 5:38]

Hello Bayram,
great shot of this scorpion ,and enjoyed reading the accompanying note. I love the pose of the beast and the colours and details are very good. Great shot!
Regards Siggi

great capture, it must be very poisonous, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 545 W: 0 N: 735] (3213)
  • [2008-09-22 5:56]

Merhaba Bayram bey çok tehlikeli bir kare bu pek yaklaşmamak lazım
çok güzel olmuş ellerinize sağlık.

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 801 W: 3 N: 2100] (6594)
  • [2008-09-22 6:26]

Coucou Bayram, and another goose bump on its way looking at this creature. A little frightening to me, in fact. The soil is so dry, I wish our soil would be a little dry sometimes! Great pictures and most of all, great notes to accompany it. Thank you once more,

Francine

Hi Bayram, great dedication to our friend Hayati, splendid scorpion with fantastic details, wonderful capture, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 525 W: 47 N: 674] (2173)
  • [2008-09-22 9:34]
  • [+]

Awesome shot! What a specimen! Good composition! This looks really good. I wonder what a higher f stop would have done for the tail and far right claw.

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2908 W: 34 N: 8623] (32138)
  • [2008-09-22 9:36]

Hi Bayram. This is not one i would want under my pillow. You have taken a close shot of the fine looking Scorpion. Good detail and natural colours. well done TFS. interestimg notes too.
Nick..

Hi Bro,

I have only seen red and white scorpions here. Come to think of it, there were far fewer this year than before. Wonderful macro showing this one in good detail. Maybe it's the first on TN because no one but you would get so close to such a dangerous scorpion??????

Jane

hi little bro,

I am not forget you, I were busy with critiques and uploading pictures for the newspapers.
Great macro shot from this Scorpion.
I have never been seen an Scorpion in the wild.
This one has great details.
It looks if he has no head?

Gert

hi Bayram,
great closeup of this scorpion
and wonder dedication for Hayati

greetings my friend sERGIO

Hello Bayram,
It's 1 am in Lodz and I'm a little too tired so, I'm just marking, I'll be back :)
Greetings,
Radomir

Selam bayram, bugun cok yoruldum. bu korkunc akreble uyandim. insallah ruyama girmez... bunlari cekmek icin senin gibi biraz cilgin olmak lazim... eline saglik. hepimizden selamlar
Leyla

Salam Bayram,

A nice capture of this well camouflaged scorpion; it looks poisonous from just looking at it. I wouldn't want it to crawl into my camping tent while I am asleep. TFS.

Best Regards,

Umar

Bayram merhaba,
Yine nadir bir türü çok güzel görüntülemiş ve hakkında epey yararlı bilgiler vermişsin. Eline sağlık. Selamlar
Mustafa

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2008-09-23 5:10]

Hi Bayram,every time i'm in difficulty to found new words to comment your pics! This is anoter perfect beauty,nothing say,just my best compliments and have a nice day,your friend,Luciano

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2008-09-23 13:56]

What a great name it has :-))
A fine POV showing this lethal creature well.
Sharp with immense detail.
Perfectly exposed.

Well done, Geckoman!

Joe

  • Great 
  • jpdenk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 480 W: 5 N: 783] (2061)
  • [2008-09-23 20:11]

Hi Bayram,

Nice shot of a species that I'd rather not meet in person. ;-)

John

Hey! Bro!
At the rate ur posting, I can never catch up with you;)
Love this shot!The details of this scorpion are so clear!
Cheers!

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1055 W: 0 N: 162] (866)
  • [2008-09-27 11:23]

Epey ürkütücü görünsede nefis bir makro daha. Elinize sağlık.

Mehmet

Arazide bunlarla karşılaşırken bu kadar zehirli olabileceği aklımıza gelmemişti:) Elinize sağlık hocam.
Deniz

Bu da nefis bir makro Bayram hocam. Emeğinize sağlık.
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2573] (9077)
  • [2008-10-20 18:15]

Hello Bayram,
such a creature that camouflaged well with its surrounding, looking very deadly.
Nice natural presentation and sharing of information.
Very insightful and infromative.

regards,
Foozi

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