Australia: The Land Where Time Began

A biography of the Australian continent 

The Scorpion

Scorpions are the oldest known land animal, and were possibly the first to invade the land. In Australia the arid zone has more species of scorpion than any other subregion.

Urodocua is the endemic genus of Australian scorpion, with 11 species. Unlike other scorpions, the members of this genus digs a deep spiral burrow, not living under bark and rocks as other scorpions. This burrowing habit has allowed it to colonise the vast arid areas of Australia.

Isometroides vescus has a variant of the burrowing habit, it occupies burrows of burrowing spiders after eating the owner, appearing to prey exclusively on burrowing spiders.

Sources & Further reading

Penny Van Oosterzee, 1993, The Centre - The Natural history of Australia's Desert Regions, Reed Australia.