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Giant Whip Scorpion

Mastigoproctus giganteus giganteus

Photo by auntnance123
Published on Project Noah
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28.4358, -80.756

Field Notes

Description:

approx. 3 inches long (not incl. "whip")

Habitat:

spotted among stack of old flower pots on riverfront property

Reference Links:

EENY493/IN890: Giant Whip Scorpion Mastigoproctus giganteus giganteus (Lucas, 1…

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (46)
auntnance123
Thanks, All. (@Luis, there are two spieces in Mexico: Mastigoproctus giganteus scabrosus and Mastigoproctus giganteus mexicanus).
LeanneGardner
Congratulations Nancy! Fantastic spotting. What an amazing creature.
Debbie Stewart
Congratulations Auntnance, brilliant series of photos of a great creature!
Fyn Kynd
Awesome spotting! Congratulations Nancy!
auntnance123
Thank you, Everyone! for all the favorites and kind comments. And thank you Project Noah for the honor.
HemaShah
Congratulations Aunt Nance! Thanks for all the wonderful spottings!
Mark Ridgway
Congratulations aunt. Love this strange beastie.
Yasser
Congratulations! This awesome encounter has been selected as Spotting of the Day! Thanks for sharing some great close-ups of this fascinating arachnid. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152850065085603&set=a.10152383557885603.943728.10150120463815603&type=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/338517634716925953
ceherzog
That looks pretty powerful up close!
uetech8
You are a boss photographer man. You welcome.
auntnance123
They are awesome; thanks,Yasser and lower-school-science31.
auntnance123
Thanks, Karen. It should be pretty easy to find them in your area I imagine. Anywhere you might find wood roaches, you should find one of these lovelies. I've found them under wood piles, leaf litter, stacks of flower pots,etc. And thanks for the mission invite; it's been added.
MrsPbio
I've got a mission for it: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/22872004 Arachnids of Florida. Love to have it in there. (and you, of course, Nance! :) )
MrsPbio
WOW!!!!!! I am so totally JEALOUS! I want to find one of these!
JenniferRoge
I changed the mission a little. The hole point of the mission is not for scorpions but also the Arthropoda that look like and is in the family as scorpions. Please join I even changed the name to Scorpions and Scorpion mimic of Florida. They don't need to be native but need to be taken in Florida.
auntnance123
Hi, Jennifer. We had this discussion a couple of weeks ago: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/14838181. Unfortunately, this spotting is not suitable for your mission. And thank you, TicThapanya, for your kind comment.
JenniferRoge
Great photo!!! Please join Scorpions of Florida http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/22371181. You image would be great for this mission. I can guaranty it will be expected in this mission.
auntnance123
Maybe that's why it's been likened to a horror film monster--the Frankenstein of bugs.
Mark Ridgway
That's an extraordinary creature. Bits of everything bolted together. Love it.
auntnance123
Thanks, Keith; but handling them is not all that brave because they are relatively harmless. Of course they can pinch the holy bejeezus out of you with those over-sized pedipalps, but they are not venomous.
gatorfellows
The ranger handling whip scorpion did not go into great scientific detail, but he did say they were quite blind and only dangerous when threatened. He had giant centipede, spiders, and other very cool things in the insect carriers. Kids were loving it and me too :)
auntnance123
Thanks, gatorfellows. It is the only whip scorpion in the U.S. But interestingly it is not an insect but an arachnid.
gatorfellows
Great spot :) Just saw one of these at the 2013 BioBlitz. It really impressed the two small girls looking at the insects on display.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Florida's Arachnids
Photographed
PublishedMay 21, 2013

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