Seychelles Forest Scorpion

## About

A female Seychelles forest scorpion.

The Seychelles forest scorpion ***(Lychas braueri)*** is a small arachnid that is currently thought to only inhabit Silhouette island, Seychelles. Seychelles forest scorpions appear dark yellowish brown in colour and also possess conical pincers and venomous tails. When compared to other scorpion species, the Seychelles forest scorpion can be differentiated by its characteristic dorsal keels present on its mesosoma (A segment on the scorpion's tail). The scorpion's bodies are generally also quite intricately designed, being patterned by dark markings across their carapaces. The pincers of a Seychelles forest scorpion are noticeably more slender when compared to other scorpions and forest scorpions in general. Generally this differentiation is attributed to scorpions with slender pincers being more venomous than those with thick pincers. Seychelles forest scorpions are quite small only growing to 25-36mm (0.98-1.42in).

## Diet

The exact diet of the Seychelles forest scorpions is entirely unknown because of its rare and elusive nature. They are known at the very least to eat small animals that share their leaf litter environments.

## Conservation Status

The Seychelles forest scorpion is known to the IUCN as critically endangered due to the invasive flora currently plaguing Silhouette island and destroying the Seychelles forest scorpion's population rapidly. These invasive plants, in particular ceylon cinnamon trees ***(Cinnamomum verum)*** destroy the Seychelles forest scorpion's leaf litter nests. This invasion of invasive plants have exterminated the populations of Seychelles forest scorpions on neighbouring Seychellois islands and if they continue to invade Silhouette island, they may cause the scorpion to go extinct. Another invasive threat that the Seychelles forest scorpion faces is the white-footed ants ***(Technomyrmex albipes)*** that inhabit Silhouette island. A deceased forest scorpion was discovered to have been killed by white-footed ants in 1990. This may be a serious indicator that the Seychelles forest scorpion is seriously contested by the ants in the area.

## Range and Population

Seychelles forest scorpions are exclusively endemic to the island nation of Seychelles, a small group of islands off the coast of northeast Africa. Specifically the scorpions occur on the small Seychellois island of Silhouette island where they inhabit a 5km2 (1,200ac) area of deep woodland forest. The scorpions were at one point extant and abundant on the neighbouring islands of Mahé and Praslin, but have became regionally extinct in the areas due to the invasion of non-native plant species on either island. Seychelles forest scorpions are especially common in piles of leaf litter, where they make nests and hunt. These leaf litter fortresses are being destroyed by invasive plants, rapidly speeding up the decline of the scorpions. The population of the forest scorpions is unknown due to their elusive nature also meaning that their current population trend is unknown.

## Behaviour

Seychelles forest scorpions are skittish arachnids that do not typically show themselves often, and instead prefer to take refuge in leaf litter. Other than this fact not much is known about the behavioural characteristics of the Seychelles forest scorpion. It is however widely known that the forest scorpion depend entirely on their strong venom to hunt prey. Probably the most well known exhibition of unique behaviour in the Seychelles forest scorpion is the 2007 photograph. During June 2007 a female forest scorpion carrying her seven young on her back. The reasoning for this maternal behaviour is currently unknown.

### Relationship with Humans

Due to the elusive nature of the Seychelles forest scorpion, they rarely if ever interact with humans. The scorpions are quite skittish as mentioned above, generally hiding from large threats like humans. If pressured, the Seychelles forest scorpion will sting, but this venom is not dangerous to humans.

## In Captivity

There are no records of captive Seychelles forest scorpions.

## Sources

* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/21460801/21567809
* Afrolychas Braueri | Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrolychas\_braueri
* Seychelles Forest Scorpion | Seychelles NATION - https://www.nation.sc/archive/220524/island-conservation-the-first-time-can-be-enough-for-scorpions
* Technomyrmex albipes | Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technomyrmex\_albipes
* Seychelles Forest Scorpion | IUCN pdf - https://nc.iucnredlist.org/redlist/amazing-species/lychas-braueri/pdfs/original/lychas-braueri.pdf