Intra- and inter-specific foraging in three scorpion species
Intra- and inter-specific foraging in three scorpion species
Intra- and inter-specific foraging in three scorpion species
Muhammad Mohsin Ahsan1, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir2*, Muhammad Khalid Mukhtar1, Arshad Ali3, Zafar Iqbal Kahan4, Kafeel Ahmed4
ABSTRACT
Intra- and inter-specific feeding behaviour of three scorpion species: Mesobuthus tumulus (Fabricius, 1798), Odontobuthus odonturus (Pocock, 1897), and Androctonus finitimus (Pocock, 1897) inhabiting Punjab, Pakistan, was studied under laboratory and field conditions. Results of the study revealed that all three scorpion species were cannibalistic. Mesobuthus tumulus attacked and fed more upon juvenile and sub- adults (medium- sized), scorpions. They also consumed dead scorpions of their own species. Odontobuthus odonturus preferred to attack and consume healthy adults and did not feed on dead scorpions. Androctonus finitimus aggressively attacked and consumed all types of prey scorpions of its own species, except the dead ones. In inter-specific feeding experiment, M. tumulus consumed healthy adults, injured adults, pregnant females and dead adults of O. odonturus. However, M. tumulus did not consume any live A. finitimus but consumed its dead. Androctonus finitimus consumed all types of O. odonturus and M. tumulus but did not feed on the dead ones. Results of feeding behaviour of A. finitimus and M. tumulus recorded in the field were similar as observed in the laboratory. However, in the field, O. odonturus was observed to rarely feed upon on members of its own species.
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