Opisthacanthus capensis

Opisthacanthus capensis
	Opisthacanthus capensis ; by Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Scorpiones
Family:	Hormuridae
Genus:	Opisthacanthus
Species:	O. capensis
Binomial name
	Opisthacanthus capensis; Thorell, 1876
Synonyms
	Opisthacanthus validus var. capensis Thorell, 1876; Opisthacanthus browni Hewitt, 1925; Opisthacanthus obscurus Kraepelin, 1911;

Opisthacanthus capensis is a Cape Province and Zimbabwean species of scorpion with robust chelae, dark brown to black in colour, turning green when under cover for some time. Opisthacanthus scorpions are arboreal and ground-dwelling, and found mainly in moist habitats in dense vegetation, pine plantations and forests, and hiding under bark and rocks.^[2]

Its venom contains powerful neurotoxins and cytotoxins, including mucopolysaccharides, hyaluronidases, phospholipases, serotonins, histamines, enzyme inhibitors, and proteins such as neurotoxic peptides. The venom from O. capensis is largely composed of melittin which stimulates the release of the enzyme phospholipase A2 causing inflammation and pain. Phospholipase A2 cleaves the SN-2 acyl chain, releasing arachidonic acid. However, in humans, it's only mildly venomous, with his sting only causing local pain.

This species features in the diets of the bat-eared fox Otocyon megalotis (Canidae), the yellow mongoose Cynictis penicillata, the small grey mongoose Galerella pulverulenta, and the water mongoose Atilax paludinosus (Viverridae).^[3]

References[edit]

^ "Opisthacanthus capensis Thorell, 1876". www.gbif.org.(p.243)
^ "Opisthacanthus capensis - Taxonomy". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
^ "Comparative diets of sympatric small carnivores" (PDF). South African Journal of Wildlife Research. 16 (4): 115–121. January 1986. hdl:10520/AJA03794369_3577. ISSN 2410-7220.

External links[edit]

Media related to Opisthacanthus capensis at Wikimedia Commons
A New Species of Opisthacanthus
iSpot gallery

[1] "Opisthacanthus capensis Thorell, 1876". www.gbif.org.(p.243)

[2] "Opisthacanthus capensis - Taxonomy". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-20.

[3] "Comparative diets of sympatric small carnivores" (PDF). South African Journal of Wildlife Research. 16 (4): 115–121. January 1986. hdl:10520/AJA03794369_3577. ISSN 2410-7220.

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