Two articles on prey capture and prey in Leiurus arabicus in Saudi Arabia

 

Mayssara El Bouhissi and co-workers have recently published two articles reporting about prey capture and prey types in Leiurus arabicus Lowe, Yagmur & Kovarik, 2014 (Buthidae) in Saudi Arabia. The first article is a case report describing predation on the lizzard Mesalina cryptica. The second article describes an example of intraguild predation involving L. arabicus preying on Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807).

Abstract article 1:
An adult buthid scorpion Leiurus arabicus Lowe, Yağmur & Kovařík, 2014 was observed preying on the lizard Mesalina cryptica (Squamata: Lacertidae) in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve (KARR), Saudi Arabia. Predation of Mesalina by a scorpion has not been previously documented. 

Abstract article 2:
Intraguild predation represents an important ecological interaction that influences species composition and trophic relationships in arid ecosystems. During diurnal surveys in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve (KARR), Saudi Arabia, we documented a case of predation involving two buthid scorpions. Specifically, an individual of Leiurus arabicus was observed preying on Androctonus crassicauda on sandy soil with scattered rocks. When disturbed, the predator attempted to retreat into rock crevices while firmly holding its prey, demonstrating strong prey-retention behaviour. This observation highlights predator–predator interactions within Buthidae in Saudi Arabian desert environments and provides insights into trophic dynamics among sympatric scorpion species.

Reference article 1:
El Bouhissi M, Alzahrani AS, Alkhamis HH, Alowaifeer AM, Kehail MA, Alrefaei AF. A case of predation on Mesalina cryptica (Squamata: Lacertidae) by Leiurus arabicus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, Saudi Arabia. Serket. 2026;21(2):213–6. [Open Access]

Reference article 2:
El Bouhissi M, Alzahrani AS, Alkhamis HH, Alowaifeer AM, Kehail MA, Alrefaei AF. First record of predation of Leiurus arabicus on Androctonus crassicauda in King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, Saudi Arabia. Serket. 2026;21(2):209–12. [Open access]

Thanks to Hisham El-Hennaway for sending me the articles! 

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!  

Scorpion mimicry observed in a Brazilian gecko

 

Avoid being killed and eaten is one of the central tasks for most animals. There is a host of anti-predator strategies around and one popular strategy is to mimic the look and/or the behavior of another dangerous animal (Batesian mimicry).  

Scorpions can be classified as a dangerous animal because of the venomous sting. They are also very characteristic with their tail with a stinger clearly displayed above the body. So it is not surprising that other animals may try to mimick scorpions in appearance and behavior to scare off potential predator. E. g., this can be seen in many stick insects where they curve the posterior part of their body above the rest of the body mimicking a scorpion's tail.

Matheus Feitosa and co-workers have recently published an article describing scorpion mimicry in the sphaerodactylid gecko Coleodactylus meridionalis (Boulenger, 1888) from Brazil, that share their habitat with Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 (Buthidae).

Abstract:
No abstract.

Reference:
Feitosa MLB, da Silva Júnior AO, da Justa Ximenes RE, Lins AHA, Moura GJ, de Araújo Lira AF. Scorpion mimicry behavior in Coleodactylus meridionalis (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae) in the northeastern Atlantic forest. Herpetology Notes. 2022;15:829-31. [Open Access]

Amphibians and reptiles as prey of Heteroctenus junceus in Cuba

 

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.

Tomás M. Rodríguez-Cabrera and co-workers recently publised an article presenting obervations of the Cuban scorpion Heteroctenus junceus (Herbst, 1800) (Buthidae) catching and eating frogs and lizzards.

Abstract:
Vertebrate predation by scorpions has been scarcely documented in the literature. Contrary to large scorpions of the genera Centruroides, Hadrurus, Opistophthalmus, and Pandinurus from North America and Africa, which are capable of subduing even small rodents and bats, West Indian scorpions of the genera Centruroides, Heteroctenus, and Tityus seem to limit their prey to amphibians and reptiles. Herein we present new cases of a frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis; Hylidae) and three lizards (Anolis allisoni, A. ophiolepis, and A. sagrei; Dactyloidae) preyed upon by Heteroctenus junceus (Herbst, 1800), at the time we summarize all cases of vertebrate predation by scorpions in the region.

Reference:
Rodriguez-Cabrera TM, Savall EM, Teruel R. Amphibians and reptiles as prey of Heteroctenus junceus (Scorpiones: Buthidae), with a summary of vertebrate predation by scorpions in the West Indies. Euscorpius. 2021(342):1-6. [Open Access]

Predation of Tityus ocelote by a lizard in Costa Rica

 

Lizards eat scorpions, and scorpions eat lizards. Even the infamous Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836 (Buthidae) scorpions have their predators. Ray Gabriel and co-workers report that the anole Norops polylepis (Peters, 1874) in Costa Rica catch and eat the scorpion Tityus ocelote Francke & Stockwell, 1987.

Abstract:
A specimen of the anole Norops polylepis (Peters, 1874) observed consuming a female of Tityus ocelote Francke & Stockwell, 1987 in the Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica is reported. This is the only known natural enemy of this scorpion distributed in southern Costa Rica and northern Panama, and the report also involves the first recorded instance of scorpion predation by N. polylepis.

Reference:
Gabriel R, Burum B, Sherwood D. Predation of Tityus ocelote (Scorpiones: Buthidae) by the lizard Norops polylepis (Sauria: Dactyloidae) in Costa Rica. Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2021(38):187-8.

Thanks to Danniella Sherwood for sending me their article.