User:Billie Rhodes/Centruroides exilicauda

Background
The Baja California Bark Scorpion is a scorpion that belongs to the Centruroides genus and exilicaudais species and is one of the 529 species of scorpions around today and one of the 41 bark species of scorpions. Centruroides exilicaudais a species of scorpions that are native to the Western parts of the United States in Arizona and some areas of New Mexico and have been seen in outside the Colorado River. C. exilicaudais is described physically to be in the size range of 1.5 inches to 3 inches in length and have tails that are only 1/16 of an inch wide. The C. exilicaudais's exoskeleton can appear in a yellow to light brown to gold color which is ideal for they surrounding environment.

Ecology
The Centruroides genus are carnivorous predators in their ecosystems. Because they fed on the insects that are in their environment, the Centruroides genus plays a key role in regulating the insect population. Centruroides also serve a role as the prey for many larger predators in their ecosystems, completing the circle of life.

Feeding
Because of the natural environment Centruroides exilicaudais live in, it is not uncommon for them to go without food or water for extended periods of time so their bodies are made to retain nutrients. Scorpions are carnivorous and in the wild these scorpions wil feed on a variety of insects, centipedes, spiders, and other scorpions. In the wild, C. exilicaudais will typically feed every two to three days.

Human Interaction
The Baja California Bark Scorpion and humans have a small window of opportunity for where they can come across one another. Centruroides exilicaudais are native to the Western areas of the United States in two states, Arizona and New Mexico, and could only have an interaction with a human here. These scorpions would primarily be found outside during the night time due to them being nocturnal creatures. Centruroides will be burrowed and hidden during the day under rock, bark, or natural caves in the earth. Scorpions have been know to find their inside of residential houses but this is uncommon and rare due to the Centruroides having poor eyesight. While the Baja California Bark Scorpion is harder, but not impossible, to come by as a pet, there a many other species of the Centruroides that are commonly available as pets.

Venom
Centruroides exilicaudais do have venom and can sting which releases their venom. This venom does have the potential to be fatal however, the chances of that happening are rare. Venom from scorpions have genetic factors separate each species due to chromatographic profiles in the venom. The genetic differences in venom is important when used for discovering different species of scorpions since physically they can be similar but biologically different. In 2004, the discovery of the exilicaudais species was found when the venom from them and the venom from their close relative, Centruroides sculpturatus, were tested and found to have different toxicity levels. The soluble venom of C. exilicaudais and C. sculpturatus were extracted and the amino acid sequences concerning toxins were tested in mice and showed that the the venom from C. exilicaudais was not to be considered as medically important. C. exilicaudais use their venom to hunt by injecting the prey which immobilizes or kills the prey.