| Opisthacanthus capensis | |
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| Opisthacanthus capensis by Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | Hormuridae |
| Genus: | Opisthacanthus |
| Species: | O. capensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Opisthacanthus capensis Thorell, 1876 | |
| Synonyms | |
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Opisthacanthus capensis is a Cape Province and Zimbabwean species of scorpion with robust chelae, dark brown to black in colour, turning green when under cover for some time. Opisthacanthus scorpions are arboreal and ground-dwelling, and found mainly in moist habitats in dense vegetation, pine plantations and forests, and hiding under bark and rocks.
Its venom contains powerful neurotoxins and cytotoxins, including mucopolysaccharides, hyaluronidases, phospholipases, serotonins, histamines, enzyme inhibitors, and proteins such as neurotoxic peptides. The venom from O. capensis is largely composed of melittin which stimulates the release of the enzyme phospholipase A2 causing inflammation and pain. Phospholipase A2 cleaves the SN-2 acyl chain, releasing arachidonic acid. However, in humans, it's only mildly venomous, with his sting only causing local pain.
This species features in the diets of the bat-eared fox Otocyon megalotis (Canidae), the yellow mongoose Cynictis penicillata, the small grey mongoose Galerella pulverulenta, and the water mongoose Atilax paludinosus (Viverridae).
References
- "Opisthacanthus capensis Thorell, 1876". www.gbif.org.(p.243)
- "Opisthacanthus capensis - Taxonomy". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
- "Comparative diets of sympatric small carnivores" (PDF). South African Journal of Wildlife Research. 16 (4): 115–121. January 1986. hdl:10520/AJA03794369_3577. ISSN 2410-7220.
External links
Media related to Opisthacanthus capensis at Wikimedia Commons- A New Species of Opisthacanthus
- iSpot gallery
| Taxon identifiers | |
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| Opisthacanthus capensis | |