Okay, THIS Should Make Up For The Spotty Posting Lately

The head of our custodial staff walked in my room early one morning recently and said, "Hey, I got this critter I want you to see."

I perked up. My thoughts going to how skimpy my nature posting has been this week.
"Sure! Bring it in."

"I actually have it here ... it's really weird. I'll go get it."

Hmmm.

"Wait, is it black?"

"Yes, how'd you know ..."

" And it looks something like a scorpion, right?"

"Yes, that's it."

"It's a whip scorpion. They are weirdly gnarly and scary looking, but they can't hurt you."

He left and returned in a few minutes with a huge, perfect whip scorpion in a bowl.

I kept "Whip" around the classroom for a few days, to show all my students, and then yesterday, I carried him home to PFHQ.

Here he is looking all tropicallybadarse, but he's a pushover.

His only active defense (no stinger, no venom) is to emit acetic acid, the same acid in vinegar.
I did not irritate this one, so he did not give off any acid, but when you do it's definitely a strong vinegar smell.
(Reminds me of my darkroom days ... stop bath was acetic acid)

The claws are so massive and he moves so slow, my thoughts are that they are more for holding prey rather than rapid "blue crabby" snatching.

The extra long legs just behind the claws very actively feel ahead as he moves.
You can see that pretty well in the video below.



Yes, it was a little creepy ... even for me.