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Central American Bark Scorpion (Centruroides margaritatus)

Centruroides margaritatus

The Centruroides margaritatus, the showy 'Central American Bark Scorpion'. It is a beautiful but dangerous arboreal Buthid. Similar to the gracilis but usually more colorful, it exhibits a striking golden-brown or reddish carapace with two dark longitudinal bands along the back (striped pattern) and vibrant yellow legs. Equipped with long and almost filiform pincers, it is an excellent and very fast climber. Its venom, although less infamous than the sculpturatus, remains clinically very relevant (intense systemic pain and allergic reactions). Gregarious like many Centruroides, it requires tall terrariums with large vertical cork sheets and tropical temperatures.

Taxonomy

Class:Arachnida

Order:Scorpiones

Family:Buthidae

Genus:Centruroides

Species:Centruroides margaritatus

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

60 - 75 %

Day temperature

26 - 31 °C

Night temperature

22 - 24 °C

UVB

None

Species description

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

Taxonomy and Genetics: ITIS lists Centruroides margaritatus (Gervais, 1841) 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: A field study in Palo Verde National Park recorded Centruroides margaritatus on soil, leaf litter, herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, and beneath rocks and fallen logs. These observations describe a studied wild setting; they do not establish enclosure dimensions, substrate depth, or a captive husbandry protocol.

Lighting and Heating: The cited study does not report captive lighting or temperature parameters; none are inferred here.

Humidity and Hydration: The cited study does not establish captive humidity, misting, or hydration parameters; none are inferred here.

Feeding and Supplementation: The cited study does not provide a species-specific captive feeding or supplementation protocol; none is inferred here.

Compatibility and Coexistence: The study observed ambush behaviour most often in vegetation and resting mainly beneath logs and rocks. It does not test cohabitation, so it does not support a compatibility recommendation.

Health and Common Diseases: The cited study does not provide a veterinary or disease-management protocol; none is inferred here.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: America Centrale e del Sud (Foreste, savane e muri di abitazioni in Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador).

Origin

Extra-Amazon South AmericaCentral America and Caribbean

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet: No verified data available
Life expectancy: No verified data available
Adult size: 11 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

Florida Bark Scorpion (Centruroides gracilis)

Arizona Bark Scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus)

Giant Madagascar Scorpion (Grosphus grandidieri)

Chinese Swimming Scorpion (Lychas mucronatus)

Recommended companions

Brown anole

Chacoan Horned Frog (Pacman Frog)

Edible Bullfrog

Cuban Tree Frog

Similar care

Guatemalan Tiger Rump (Davus pentaloris)

Kahlenberg's tarantula

Giant cave cockroach

Brazilian Redrump Tarantula (Grammostola actaeon)