An observation of scorpion predation on a gecko in Greece

 

Scorpions prey on a wide variety of invertebrate prey and generally you can say that they will catch and eat any prey they can subdue without to much risk.  As most of you probably know, they can catch and eat vertebrate prey too as long as the can subdue them. Cases of predation on amphibians, reptiles and even small mammals have been reported. 

In a recent paper, Noureddine Benali and Guillaume Gomard have described a case of vertebrate predation from Greece where an Aegaeobuthus gibbosus (Brullé, 1832) (Buthidae) was seen eating on a juvenile gecko Tarentola mauritanica (Linnaeus, 1758). 

The authors think that this is not an isolated case and that opportunistic scorpions will catch and eat any prey they can subdue.

Abstract:
We report a natural case of predation on the gecko Tarentola mauritanica (Linnaeus, 1758) by Aegaeobuthus gibbosus (Brullé, 1832) in Western Peloponnese, Greece. The event was recorded during a nocturnal survey in a sandy habitat. The scorpion was observed grasping the gecko with its pedipalps and feeding on it. This observation provides new insights into the trophic interactions of A. gibbosus.

Reference:
Benali N, Gomard G. Predation on the gecko Tarentola mauritanica (Linnaeus, 1758) (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae) by the scorpion Aegaeobuthus gibbosus (Brullé, 1832) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in western Peloponnese, Greece. Serket. 2025;21(1):60–3. [Full text supplied bu authors] 

Thanks to Noureddine Benali and Hisham El-Hennaway for sending me this article!