[Discussion] Androctonus spp.

I translated this, from the french book in the best way i could. Basically read the middle part where the picture of the tail is. This can be an accurate method of diagnosing if you have an aeneas aeneas or not.

Androctonus Aeneas C. L. Koch 1839




This morph acknowledged as species by C.L. Koch (Die Arachniden 1839, Nürnberg, Bd.6 p 3-6, fig 432, tab 181), originating from North-Africa placed into the category of Buthus or the Prionurus genre, is often misunderstood for A. Bicolor H. and E. (even going as far as saying it is a variant of A. Crassicauda).



These uncertainties are due to a lack of knowledge of the exact characteristics of the species from one side, and the huge amounts of different views written on these morphologies by the descriptors.

Revised diagnose:

Relatively large species, which can attain 8cm total length. Dark coloration, uniform on the body (from black to olive to chocolate brown). Sometimes the extremities of the legs are slightly lighter coloured. To determine this species, its is needed to add these details to the diagnose:

Cephalothorax about as wide as it is long and well granulated, with well pronounced carinea. Tergites are heavily granulated and tricarinate from the very first ring, very pronounced carinea.

Sternite 7 lighter granulation, sometimes with almost smooth carinea.

Thick tail, 3^rd tailring wider than the 1^st one.

1^st ring wider than it is long with 10 complete distinguishable carinea

2^nd ring is wider than it is long with 8 distinguishable carinea. The intermediate carinea are variably well pronounced, but noticeable from the side.

3^rd ring wider than it is long, with sloping sides with less pronounced carinea and some posteriorly granulation

4^th ring with sloping sides. Longer than it is wide with 8 pronounced, complete carinea.

5^th ring 1.1 to 1.2 times longer than it is wide, with one axial and two lateral carinea bellyside which have more developed teeth and two lateral-dorsal carinea which run over all rings and turned outwards meeting each other at the extremities again.

Dorsal sides of the rings are concave and depending, granulated on 2^nd, 3^rd and even 4^th ring

Well developed anal framework (lol)


Poison sac below Aeneas 157 / Liouvillei 158. Setae not present on Liouvillei, with the exception of the outer tailsegment.



Poison blatter narrow and shorter than the telson

Chaetotaxie (hairdevelopment on insects) of the tail and poison sac almost non existent

Sexual comb female 20-27 bristles/ Sexual comb males 27-32 bristles. Internal fulcrum with only one microchete

Arms of the mouth granulated, without macrochetes.

..

Origins

This subspecies is usually found in East Marocco to Tunesia, more accurate, on the High Plateaus. They only appear close to the Tassili Mountains.



Systematic recognition


A Aeneas diversifies itself from A. Bicolor H. and E. by its dorsal granulation from the first tailsegment and in particular by the lack of developed intermediary carinea on the 3^rd tailsegment.





A Aeneas is a morphologic, plastic species which makes for many varieties and hard to classify.. given the morphologic differences given above.

Aeneas Liouvillei is another Aeneas morph and is easily distinguishable during adult stage. Where Aeneas aeneas tailsegments are heavily granulated, Liouvillei tailsegments are practically smooth.

Liouvillei can attain great posture where some females reach 9cm or more. Granulation present until the 3^rd segment (characteristique of Aeneas Aeneas). The dents on the side rings are also relatively well granulated like Aeneas aeneas. The pinchers are quite large and bulk.

Well developed anal framework.

Ye i thought it was nice to translate it like that, but I'm sure you know what I mean

Love at red light district!

I love you guys.....I am learning so much just reading this thread..........also sucks because I now see where I messed up and have to go spend more money.....i.e. I bought black lights for heat at night but now I see that black lights are bad......so I have to go buy red lights
I cant wait to get some pics of all my monsters ......( i'm working on it).....
but thank you guys for all the info......It help soooo much

I feel left out I cannot contribute to this it's annoying lol I want one of these!

I have a gravid female on the way, Bex... Bicolor AND Australis, from last night :-)
As a gift... nothing wrong with that is there?

Only the parabuthus didnt want to. They are more stubborn me thinks. Still keeping them communal till they do it!

I want some too pluto ) lol jk

Yeah this tread helps me a lot and Im planning to get A Austaralis hector wish could get it now

thank you guys for clearing that all up for me!

*~BEX~* wrote:

I feel left out I cannot contribute to this it's annoying lol I want one of these!

Same here, I'm not worthy of Androctonus/Parabuthus threads

JamieLawrence wrote:

*~BEX~* wrote:

I feel left out I cannot contribute to this it's annoying lol I want one of these!

Same here, I'm not worthy of Androctonus/Parabuthus threads

It feels horrible doesnt it...not fair..*stomps feet*

I am coming to england by the end of this summer and my socks will accidentally be filled with them.. so Bex and Jamie, watch the socks and pick up what drops out

How how how... djingle djingle

I do want a sack of mealworms in return.. Oh thats right, Bex only got beetles :p

Here's a couple more of my fatty fat. Think I got the tail looking big this time. These were taken through the plexi so they aren't quite as sharp.

Dude! She has a fat tail! Big stomach too. Are you sure she is not gravid? No white dots? Her tail is bigger than the one of my female really. An especially large telson btw

@ Streettrash
Nice series of shots bro. I like shot #3 best

Btw, I've got a new pic of my freshly molted A.bicolor... a 7th instar male specimen.

And i definitely feel this urge to share with you guys.. FAT Tail Lovers!


(Pardon the clarity as it was taken with my cam phone, DSLR was out of batt)

lol that is a heavy hitter

INCREDIBLE !!!!!!!!!!!! both of you..........just simply incredible...........
one day i'll have a camera........

Nice one GS! That tail is huge!

Pluto, I have not noticed any white dots through the membrane, though I searched and searched when I moved them last night. This one is way fatter that my other one, and both have been fed the same since I got them.


Thanks for the kind words fellas!!

I do think i see some whitish spots dude... Or it is the picture..

They are very obscure at first, gradually becoming more visible. But they become visible pretty fast, so she should have them by now.

I'll be keeping my eye on her... She was the smaller of the two when I got her.

Well, funny thing.. mine is gravid and she locked herself up under a slate. Cool thing about it, I dont see her anymore and I don't try to look under it either as it may cause stress.

Every cricket I let go in her enclosure does disappear so I think my girl is pretty healthy and .. FAT

My guess is she will pop by the end of this month - till mid next month.. the embryo are just TOO clear to be far away now.

Awesome Pluto. I'm sure that you'll keep us in the loop...

a good walk at nite got me this pic last nite i know its not an androctonus but thought i would show you all what live around my house

here is a front pic of my androctonus bicolor it looked cool so im posting it lol! and a couple more ! :venom: