Malagasy Painted Scorpion: a striking legend shrouded in mystery....
- The Dreamweaver
- Jan 19, 2019
- 7 min read
Malagasy Painted Scorpion
Latin Name: Veloxis fulguri/V. fulguri (Lightning Quick)
Classification/Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Superfamily: Buthoidea
Family: Buthidae
Subfamily: Occidae (Slay/Kill/Strike)
Genus: Veloxis (Quick/Swift)
Species: Veloxis fulguri/V. fulguri (Lightning Quick)
Etymology
During the time of colonialism and when the British translated the Malagasy language into Latin- they christened the scorpion Veloxis fulguri which roughly translates to 'lightning quick' from the Malagasy version of the name to do with its multiple strikes compared to other scorpions- "lightning strikes twice". Occidae roughly translates to 'slay', 'kill' and 'strike'.
Other names- Blood Scorpion, Rot Scorpion, Skeletal Scorpion, Dread Scorpion, Butterfly Scorpion, Magpie Scorpion, Paradise Scorpion, Cyclops Scorpion, Peacock Scorpion and Blind Assassin. Known as the Blood Scorpion because of its distinct red markings that resemble blood, and Rot Scorpion because of its colouring (a sickly green) as well as the effects of its venom's corrosive qualities- causing tissue breakdown, gangrene etc.
Discovery
The Malagasy have folklore of the scorpion; a malevolent and renegade spirit with a volatile and unforgiving personality who can strike its target many times and shroud itself within the shadows and clouds. Within phrases and literature, the Malagasy reference the scorpion- the phrase "Don't tread near the lightning; for it will slay you for your offering" and an unnamed poem:-
A red river flows of your face,
and all you see is the black night of rage;
for your merciless soul strikes again and again.
Yet an obscure mishap,
lead the grass to turn red,
and your fury twist green.
After incurring your blind vengeance,
I lie dead.
The poem references the colours of the scorpion; red, black and green as well as its deadly and venomous repeated strikes.
During the 20th century, a Malagasy zoologist, Anne-Sophie Rasoanaivo, sketched and painted a specimen which she had caught as well as studied the sting mechanism after dissecting it; unluckily, the specimen was destroyed or believed to have decomposed later. Alongside the dissection, she followed a colony of the scorpions for a few years; this colony inhabited the divide between cave and underwater river; there she observed the various life stages of the scorpion and composed paintings of the 'Painted Scorpion' and its anatomy. The following information about the species (in the next categories) is derived from Malagasy folklore and Rasoanaivo's research.
Marius Doohre, an American backpacker, trekked Madagascar in a recent expedition in July 2012 of the African continent. He had heard tales from locals of the national wildlife but it was quite a coincidence that he came across the scorpion; unfortunately, because of the specimen's camouflage and intimidating behaviour, he declined to take a picture.
Then in 2014, Jhon Qodir, an Indonesian graphic designer, travelling with friends witnessed the scorpion; regrettably, none of his friends or himself took pictures stating ".... probably already discovered by scientists.... wouldn't make a difference" when having a chat later on with friends.
To this day, there have not been enough sightings of the scorpion and it remains a creature of bygone lore.
Description
It was thought previously that the scorpion was a suborder within arachnids (like the Tailless Whip Spider) but its appearance and physiology was clearly a scorpion. It was later added into the family Buthidae because it had a fat or thick tail (of that family) to keep its sting sheathed in. Because of its sting mechanism different to many of the order, Scorpiones, a subfamily within Buthidae was created for it; Occidae.
There is a possibility that Occidae can have its own family within their order as they also share many characteristics with that of the genus' Heterometrus and Pandinus.
Furthermore, in Occidae there is only one genus, Veloxis, which the species is the sole member of.
Morphology
It is believed that the sting evolution is due to a mutation to capture fast moving prey and not to quickly tire the scorpion during its nocturnal awakenings, and so it can remain sheltered during daytime. Retracted the sting is 2.5 centimetres (0.5 in) and upon extension the sting is 10 centimetres (3.8 in).
The body length (with retracted sting) can be 20 centimetres (7.9 in), leading to it weighing almost 60 grams even though it has a slender and streamlined body. Scorplings are generally 2 centimetres (0.6 in) in length.
Its metasoma (tail) goes through many changes in different stages of its life; as a scorpling it is prominently barbed as defence since its telson extension is still developing. As a juvenile, the tail begins to resemble its mature adult form as its sting is nearly fully formed.
If at any point, the sting is damaged; this part will snap off (like a shell or feline shedding a claw) and reveal a second sting underneath that previous sting, sadly, this new or spare sting is no longer extendable as before and remains in this position as seen in other scorpion species.
Like most scorpions, the female is larger than the male, and carries its scorplings on its back for their own protection. Sexual dimorphism between sexes/genders is only in size- females larger than males, and both are vibrantly coloured (leading to it referred to as Peacock, Magpie, Butterfly etc).
The species has four eyes side by side engulfed in its black markings (so it is not blind even though it is called the Blind Assassin by the Malagasy) deceiving predators into thinking it has one large eye; this is how it earned its name as the Cyclops Scorpion.
The scorpion surpasses the South African Rock Scorpion- the largest species in the body length, when it's telson (sting) is extended; 29-30 centimetres (11.2-11.6 in). Making it the only species not in the Heterometrus genus to be of this size.
Biology
It has the same average lifespan of nearly all scorpions; 8 years.
Scorplings go through the same birth and development like all of their encompassing order. They are a translucent red with sides a matte green. After many moults and growth in size, they will reach the juvenile stage where they now begin to resemble adult scorpions.
Habitat & Distribution (Geographic Range)
It resides in all terrains of Madagascar primarily in temperate regions with widespread shelter (rock/stone crevices, soft soil to burrow, dead and hollow trees etc) from predators.
Feeding Habits
The scorpion is unique from the rest of its order and uses its ability of longer range (extending telson) consistently. As most scorpions, it only injects venom out of defence or larger and stronger prey, and can control the amount of venom injected. Its telson works like a pike or bullet producing force with its quick extension leading to a deep and incapacitating puncture wound.
Like other large scorpions it feeds on prey such as small reptiles, rodents, birds and insects some of similar size and others larger.
Rasoanaivo's colony of scorpions were stated by her to dwell within a bat cave; preying on young and ailing bats that drop to the floor from weakness, illness or accidents but at the same time this left the specimens to become targets for other cave-dwelling predators.
Venom
The venom is nowhere near the toxicity of the genus, Leirus, also called Deathstalker, but is still damaging like all Buthidae members.
Corrosive on the sting and surrounding site causing tissue breakdown, gangrene etc.
The scorpion has a different way of envenoming as its extending sting provides a longer range; it no longer needs to grip its prey when stinging. Most often the venom is used as a last resort if prey are not disabled quick enough or if there is a life and death situation such as a predator or threat. The Malagasy have said the force of the sting feels like that of a bullet (when the venom is involved).
Hazards
The venom is said to cause tissue decay from the inside out- from the organs to the skin located at the sting site or puncture wound. Disabling prey as though they have had an internal amputation from the tissue breakdown within. On indication that the nerves are damaged on the site; muscle spasms begin on the localized site. Eventually, the prey loses all feeling in the affected area; at this point, the affected site must be amputated as it is rendered useless and a cause of pain from the spasms.
All these effects take place within several hours and as all arachnids, the scorpion, remains patient to consume its prey.
For humans, the effects of the toxins are more incapacitating if they have an allergic reaction to the venom.
There is currently no known antivenin available for any possible use as the actual components of the venom are uncertain.
Conservation & Human Impact
Legality
Currently, it is a species steeped in legend and live specimens have not been found; there is little chance for it to enter the exotic pet/wildlife trade. If the possibility of live specimens being captured and bred were to happen, there would be strict laws in place for its selling and owning the species because of its infamous temperament and lethal venom.
Since it has a similar venom composition to the Leirus, it would be of importance to the scientific and medical community.
Folklore about the species has taught that the scorpion, though large for its size, is aggressive if provoked (like the Leirus), even accidentally, and very defensive. Females are known to be very protective of young (when they have not moulted enough to have a hardened exoskeleton).
In culture
-Small communities of Malagasy whose ancestors have come across the scorpion have passed down folklore such as a phrase and a poem.
-At the moment, this species is not widely recognised as there is uncertainty as to whether it actually exists.
Join the search for the scorpion.
References
Erdeş, E., Doğan, T. S., Coşar, I., Danışman, T., Kunt, K. B., Seker, T., Yücel, M., … Ozen, C. (2014). Characterization of Leiurus abdullahbayrami (Scorpiones: Buthidae) venom: peptide profile, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity. The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases, 20(1), 48. doi:10.1186/1678-9199-20-48
Postma, T. L. (2009). CHAPTER 43 - Neurotoxic Animal Poisons and Venoms. In M. R. Dobbs (Ed.). Clinical Neurotoxicology (pp. 463-489). Philadelphia, USA: Saunders. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/buthidae
Rasoanaivo, A-S/The Dreamweaver. (alleged/approx. 20th century). Malagasy Painted Scorpion [Paintings]. Retrieved from https://mypresentworld.wixsite.com/thedreamweaver (ACTUALLY ME, Y'ALL!)
Roddy, M. & Freishtat, R.J. (2007). Scorpion Stings. In L. C. Garfunkel, J. M. Kaczorowski & C. Christy (Eds). Pediatric Clinical Advisor 2nd Edition (p. 512). Philadelphia, USA: Mosby. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/scorpion-sting
The Dreamweaver (2019). Malagasy Painted Scorpion: Original Hoax Article/Research [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://mypresentworld.wixsite.com/thedreamweaver
The Scorpion Files (2019). Buthidae. Retrieved from https://www.ntnu.no/ub/scorpion-files/buthidae.php
Vimeo URL - https://vimeo.com/312258535
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