The scorpion Cheloctonus jonesii Pocock, 1892 (Scorpiones, Liochelidae) as a possible predator of the red-billed quelea, Quelea quelea (Linnaeus, 1758)

摘要

Scorpions are reported for the first time predating on birds. In Kruger National Park, South Africa, we observed, in an area of approximately 20 m2, eight Cheloctonus jonesii Pocock, 1892. Each scorpion was in its burrow and had captured, by a leg, ajuvenile red-billed quelea Quelea quelea (Linnaeus, 1758). Although birds and other vertebrates are known predators of scorpions (McCormick & Polis, 1990), scorpions are not considered to be predators of birds (McCormick & Polis, 1990; V. Fet & L. Prendini, pers. comms). Scorpions do, however, prey on non-bird vertebrates such as geckos, snakes, lizards and rodents (Lamoral, 1971a; McCormick & Polis, 1990) as well as arthropods and non-arthropod invertebrates (Lamoral, 1971b; McCormick & Polis, 1990). Our observations below suggest that birds, at least the red-billed quelea, Quelea quelea (Linnaeus, 1758), may be a prey item of the scorpion Cheloctonus jonesii Pocock, 1892.