Vaejovis brysoni facts for kids

Vaejovis brysoni is a type of scorpion that was found in 2013. It belongs to a group of scorpions called Vaejovidae. This scorpion was discovered in the Santa Catalina Mountains in southern Arizona, USA. It was named after Robert W. Bryson Jr., who found it in an area looking over the city of Tucson. When it was discovered, Vaejovis brysoni became the tenth mountain scorpion species known in Arizona. It was also the second scorpion from the vorhiesi group to be found in the Santa Catalina Mountains.

What Does Vaejovis brysoni Look Like?

The female Vaejovis brysoni scorpion is about 27.5 millimetres (1.08 in) long. That's about the length of a small paperclip! Like many other scorpions, the mother scorpion carries her babies on her back. She can carry up to 24 baby scorpions at once.

Scorpion Family Members

Vaejovis brysoni is related to other scorpions in the same family. Some of its relatives include the Vaejovis janssi, Hoffmannius spinigerus, and H. coahuilae. These scorpions share similar features and behaviors because they are part of the same scientific family.

Where Do These Scorpions Live?

Scorpions from the same family as Vaejovis brysoni live in the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico. Their main home is the Sonoran Desert region. This area includes southern Arizona, parts of Texas, and New Mexico.

Finding Scorpions in Arizona's Mountains

Vaejovis brysoni was specifically found in the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson, Arizona. Another scorpion from the same group, Vaejovis deboerae, also lives in these mountains. It's interesting that two scorpions from the same vorhiesi group live in the same mountain range. This happens because each mountain, even within the same range, can be quite isolated. This isolation creates unique homes for different species.

Why Are New Scorpions Still Being Found?

Arizona has many isolated mountain areas in the desert. These are often called "sky islands" because they are like islands of mountains rising out of the desert "sea." These sky islands are special places where new species are still being discovered. Fifty years ago, only four species of this scorpion family were known in Arizona. Now, thanks to new discoveries, there are ten!

Richard F. Ayrey, one of the scientists who wrote about Vaejovis brysoni, said that this new scorpion shows how much amazing life is still waiting to be found, even in modern times.