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Animal with venom-filled claws discovered in Yosemite
The new species is a type of 'pseudoscorpion,' meaning it has traits that make it half-scorpion, half-spider.
Thu, Dec 02 2010 at 3:22 AM
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ARACHNOPHOBIA: Pseudoscorpions have bodies and legs like spiders, but claws like scorpions. (Photo from Texas Tech University video)
Researchers have discovered a new half-scorpion, half-spider animal lurking in the dark caves of Yosemite National Park, according to Texas Tech University News.
The creature is a type of pseudoscorpion, tiny arachnids that have abdomens like spiders with eight spidery legs and claws like scorpions. Unlike real scorpions, these creatures lack a long post-abdomen stinger. Normally that would be good news, but this new species makes up for it with the addition of venom-filled claws.
Luckily the new pseudoscorpion (Parobisium yosemite) is also blind, slow-moving and very small, typically measuring no longer than about half an inch. So there's no reason to jump to cancel those summer vacation plans to Yosemite just yet.
The animal is also only found deep in dark granite caves, one of the main reasons the discovery took so long.
"The canyon where it was found was made by a glacier during an ice age millions of years ago," noted James Cokendolpher, one of the researchers who documented the find. "Through time, rubble with larger rocks would fall and create piles with caves or subterranean voids. We think that’s where this animal was trapped and evolved into the species that it is now."
Cokendolpher also said that finding the pseudoscorpion in granite caves was particularly unusual because most cave-dwelling species live in limestone caves, where better humidity and access to food makes the environment more hospitable. The new species is probably only the second pseudoscorpion ever found in a granite enclosure.
Even though they are harmless to humans, the way these tiny predatory arachnids hunt is eerie nonetheless.
"We kept them in petri dishes with plaster of Paris that was moistened so it was more like cave conditions," Cokendolpher explained to the Texas Tech University News. "When we introduced other animals into the petri dish it would go over and tap the animal [with its venom-filled claws]. When it did that, it was able to sense chemical cues there such as identification, how large the item was and whether it was something suitable to eat."
At the very least, it's enough to make even seasoned spelunkers think twice about any tap-tap they might encounter while exploring in the dark.
Watch a full interview with researcher Cokendolpher about the new pseudoscorpions here:
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I found one in my home in Newfoundland Canada! They are so small and very creepy! I have never seen anything like that before!
i found one in my house in walsenburg colorado and they move fast!!!!!! They dont just live in caves!!!
"The new species is probably only the second pseudoscorpion ever found in a granite enclosure."
How many would anyone expect to find?
It is so obvious that God allows his creations to evolve, some more than others. Some of these bloggers have not evolved to the point of being intelligent. It always struck me funny to see how important it is for an athiest to not believe is something they say does not exist. How can you have so much animosity towards something that does not exist? Faith is important not only with respect to God but also to love. If Faith was easy Heaven would be very crowded.
Um- just WHERE is heaven, exactly? And if God made heaven, wouldn't he make it big enough so it wouldn't get crowded?
Heaven can be crowded? Hummmm. What are its dimensions? And what are the dimensions of a soul?
I'm going to be much happier when all the idiots who believe in false gods and imaginary friends are gone.
What a ridiculous comment. Nothing you said addresses the article itself. Off-topic comments merely show your own unwillingness to try to understand what the author and scientists try so hard to explain.
It looks more like half scorpion half ROACH!!!!!! Just nasty.
It's a insect, not a animal.
Yup, insects are also animals.
insects are part of the animal kingdom.
Insects ARE animals, actually one of the most common groups of animals. Look dude, there are traditionally 5 kingdoms - 2 of them are basically bacteria, and then there are plants and fungus, and animals. Animals by definition eat other things as opposed to producing their own food, and have "animal-like" cells, and a lot of them. Of course insects (and arachnids, since we're talking about scorpions) fit into this group.
It's an arachnid, not an insect.
yawn just like sunspiders and vinaigrettes nothing new
You do realize that neither of those produce venom from their claws, don't you?
LOL i mean vinegaroons, not a salad dressing
Oh dear... This is not an insect. And it is an animal. It is also an Arachnid, which is a group of animals which generally have 8 legs.
Yeah, I'm inclined to agree...it's more along the lines of a critter, or creepy crawler...
insect.
I have a photo of a very similar spider/scorpion, but with reddish "fur" on its body, taken in 1968 in Vietnam. I had no idea if it was poisonous, but a local man was terrified of it and said to stay away from it.
Pseudoscorpions of different types are found worldwide. What makes this variety interesting is the venomous claws. It's not something that's been seen before. Most venomous pseudoscorpions have a venomous bite instead.
I've got news for you! I was stung by a 1/2 inch scorpion and I had 12 hours of intense pain, another 12 of moderate pain and several days before I had a fully functioning hand.
I've got news for you! I was stung by a 1/2 inch scorpion and I had 12 hours of intense pain, another 12 of moderate pain and several days before I had a fully functioning hand.
I've got news for you! I was stung by a 1/2 inch scorpion and I had 12 hours of intense pain, another 12 of moderate pain and several days before I had a fully functioning hand.
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