Animal Profiles
Arachnids

Arizona Bark Scorpion

Centruroides sculpturatus

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

The Arizona bark scorpion is a climbing arachnid of the Sonoran Desert. It shelters in protected crevices and carries its young on its back.

Centruroides sculpturatus

Andrew Meeds · CC BY

At a glance

Location
The Sonoran Desert of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, beneath bark, rocks and other cover.
Habitat
Desert
Diet
Insectivore
Food
Insects and other small prey.

Classification

Common name
Arizona Bark Scorpion
Browse group
Arachnids
Scientific name or taxon
Centruroides sculpturatus
Taxon rank
species
Order
Scorpiones
Family
Buthidae
Genus
Centruroides
Source classification
Arachnida

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It is an accomplished climber.
  • Young ride on their mother before the first moult.
  • Its hardened outer covering fluoresces under ultraviolet light.

Habitat and range

The Sonoran Desert of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, beneath bark, rocks and other cover.

Appearance and adaptations

Its slender body, pincers and curved tail distinguish it from bulkier scorpions. The hardened outer covering fluoresces under ultraviolet illumination.

Diet and behaviour

It climbs well and can rest upside down beneath cover. Females give birth to live young, which ride on the mother until their first moult.

Sources

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