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Florida Bark Scorpion (Centruroides gracilis)

Centruroides gracilis

The Centruroides gracilis, known as 'Florida Bark Scorpion'. Belonging to the infamous family of Buthids, it is an agile arboreal scorpion (up to 3.9 inches). Unlike the clumsy terrestrial scorpions, it has a filiform build, very thin pincers and a slender and very long tail. Its color ranges from Dark Mahogany to Black with often yellowish legs. It is an exceptional climber, fast and tendentially gregarious (can be kept in large communal colonies). Being a Buthid, it has 'hot' venom (medically significant, extremely painful although rarely lethal for healthy adults), which requires experience, long tweezers and aerial escape-proof cases.

Taxonomy

Class:Arachnida

Order:Scorpiones

Family:Buthidae

Genus:Centruroides

Species:Centruroides gracilis

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

60 - 70 %

Day temperature

25 - 30 °C

Night temperature

21 - 24 °C

UVB

None

Species description

Geographic Origin and Habitat: ITIS lists Africa, the Caribbean, Middle America and South America as geographic divisions for Centruroides gracilis, and lists Mexico as native. This taxonomic record does not characterize habitat conditions or captive environmental requirements.

Taxonomy and Genetics: ITIS lists Centruroides gracilis (Latreille, 1804) as a valid species in Buthidae. The cited taxonomic record does not provide a genetic result for this entry.

Behaviour and Habits: The cited taxonomic record does not provide species-specific behavioural observations; none are inferred here.

Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: The cited taxonomic record does not provide morphological or sexual-dimorphism measurements; none are inferred here.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Terrarium Setup: The cited field study provides no enclosure dimensions, substrate protocol, or furnishing guidance for Centruroides gracilis; none is inferred here.

Lighting and Heating: The cited field study provides no captive lighting schedule or temperature target; none is inferred here.

Humidity and Hydration: The cited field study provides no captive humidity target or hydration protocol; none is inferred here.

Feeding and Supplementation: Davison, Brown and Arrivillaga (2020) report opportunistic prey on Utila Island, Honduras, including spiders (including tarantulas), centipedes, katydids and crickets. This field observation does not establish captive prey size, frequency, portions, or supplementation.

Compatibility and Coexistence: The study reports one case of cannibalism between two adult females. It is an observation at the study site, not a cohabitation recommendation.

Health and Common Diseases: The study reports a courtship dance involving a female carrying second-instar offspring, but provides no disease, treatment, or veterinary-management guidance.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: America Centrale e Florida (Foreste umide, sotto cortecce, ambienti antropici).

Origin

Extra-Amazon South AmericaCentral America and CaribbeanNorth AmericaAfrica and Madagascar

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet: No verified data available
Life expectancy: No verified data available
Adult size: 15 cm
Lifestyle/Microhabitat: No verified data available
Activity cycle: No verified data available
Sociality: No verified data available
Reproduction: No verified data available
Venom level: No verified data available
Handling tolerance: No verified data available
Brumation: No verified data available
Molting: No verified data available

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

Related species

Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.

Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

Recommended companions

Compatible cards from coherent ecosystems with matching parameters.

Similar care

Cards with similar requirements, difficulty, habitat, and husbandry profile.

Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Origin

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Image gallery

Related species

Variants and close relatives

Central American Bark Scorpion (Centruroides margaritatus)

Arizona Bark Scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus)

Giant Madagascar Scorpion (Grosphus grandidieri)

Chinese Swimming Scorpion (Lychas mucronatus)

Recommended companions

Chacoan Horned Frog (Pacman Frog)

Brown Tomato Frog

Chubby Frog (Banded Bullfrog)

Cuban Tree Frog

Similar care

Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula (Brachypelma auratum)

Mexican Giant Redknee Tarantula (Brachypelma smithi)

Mexican Pink Beauty Tarantula (Brachypelma klaasi)

Mexican Rose Grey Tarantula (Tliltocatl verdezi)