Two-toned Thicktail Scorpion
Ventral
Ellura
Marbled Scorpion
Dorsal, compact
 
                      
Marbled Scorpion (Lychas sp ES01)Class: Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Spiders, Scorpions, Mites & Ticks (Arachnida)
Order: Scorpions (Scorpiones)
Family: Scorpion (Buthidae)     iNaturalist Observation
Species: Marbled Scorpion (Lychas sp ES01)
This Photo:     Dorsal, spread out

Thank you Dr Erich Volschenk for identifying this species for us

General Species Information:
Found on Ellura (in the Murray Mallee, SA) and elsewhere
A small (body & head is around 10mm or so = ~10mm SVL) very pretty scorpion, but quite poisonous.
The common name is very apt, being of marbled / scaloped patterns with various shades of brown. While marbled it is also quite striped; reminding us somewhat of a parquet floor (sharp edges with woodgrain).
Aparantly the sting is very painful so watch out !-)
They also fluoresce in UV light.
We thought this was L. marmoreus, but Erich said "I think this might be one of the synonyms and not 'true' marmoreus. It's a bit on the pale side though which might indicate something in 'variatus group'? So lifted it to genus.

Copyright © 2015-2024 Brett & Marie Smith. All Rights Reserved. Photographed 10-Mar-2015
This species is an Australian Native Species, not listed in the SA Murray Mallee Survey of 2010.