Hello,

is C. exilicauda "gertschi" considered simply a color varient or morph?
Is there anything abiotic or biotic associated with this coloration? I might assume it is a morph, although i have no field experiance with this species (or found papers written in relation) it sounds like someone observing a population of regularly colored C. exilicauda individuals may occasionally stumble apon a "gertschi" form. Another example i would consider is H. arizonensis and H. arizonensis pallidus. In this instance i would say sub-species?

Zach

Hello Zach,

My understanding is that 'gertschi' currently has no formal scientific status, subspecies or otherwise. As a result it could be considered a form of common name used for common sense reference in the hobby and trade. As memory serves 'pallidus' is no longer a valid subspecies either but we have to call them something.

I'm sure if memory doesn't serve me correctly Kari won't hesitate to inform me of the error of my ways.

Hi Zach,
Centruroides exilicauda "gertschi" was originally described as Centruroides gertschi by Dr. Herbert L. Stahnke in 1940 based primarily on the color pattern (i.e., "striped"). Subsequently, in 1971, Stahnke sank his own species in an exhaustive study and synonymized C. gertschi under C. sculpturatus. He based his synonymy on numerous specimens from throughout Arizona that demonstrate that there is no fine line separating the two species according to color alone. That means the Centruroides in Arizona range in color from straw yellow with no markings to deep orange-yellow with dark stripes and other markings, that was his idea of C. gertschi, and everything in between. He also studied the chemical makeup of the venom and morphology and morphometric ratios (comparitive length of body parts).
He concluded that C. gertschi was, for the most part, a habitat variant most common in forests and mountains. (I collected one in the middle of nowhere near Eloy, Arizona that was pale yellow with stripes: absolutely flat, hot, Sonoran Desert.)

Today, collectors call the striped form of C. exilicauda by the "gertschi" name in quotations to signify it is striped.

On a related note, there is a group of chemical biologists that is separating C. exilicauda and C. sculpturatus based on venomology. C. sculpturatus is shown to have a more potent venom than C. exilicauda, which is known only from Baja California. There will soon come a day when C. sculpturatus will return.

As far as Hadrurus arizonensis, Hadrurus arizonensis pallidus has been synonymized under H. arizonensis arizonensis and is merely a color "morph" found in dune fields. According to scorpion naturalist, Joe Bigelow, slopes adjacent to such dunes will have both color morphs, with the dark one far outnumbering the pale ("pallidus") form, and vice-versa. There is another subspecies, Hadrurus arizonensis austrinus, in Baja California that has yet to have its status as a subspecies evaluated. I don't "believe" in subspecies.

For more information on the synonymy of C. gertschi, read
Stahnke, H.L. 1971. Some observations of the genus Centruroides Marx (Buthidae, Scorpionida) and C. sculpturatus Ewing. Entomological News, 82: 281-307.

And to Darrin, as I was writing this during his reply, Of course... would you expect any less? BUt at least this time you are "spot on"!

kari

Why not?

Oh, YOU again.

I'll give you one reason: Scorpio maurus. And you know allll about that one, dontcha Brent!:p

Oh, you mean Scorpio 'kruglovi', Scorpio 'palmatus', Scorpio 'yemenensis', etc.

Scorpio maurus is a mess... someone needs to do some molecular work on them!

Well, thats what happens with the first named scorpion on earth... Dont forget fuscus either.