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Description

If you have ever taken a boat through the winding labyrinth of mangroves, then it is guaranteed that you have encountered this species. You can't miss them, as they swing from the branches and hang above the water-filled channels. At first, newcomers to these waters are fearful of them, as they see the claws and hanging hooked tails. However, you only need to watch them for a few moments to know that these creatures mean no harm to beings like us. The only target for their weaponry is the fishy food that dwells beneath the water's surface.

The anglertail scorpion is related to the arachnids, obviously the scorpion part of the family. While others in their group prefer a terrestrial life style, the anglertail has changed its anatomy to be more arboreal. The limbs that were once designed to scuttle and crawl have now been altered to climb and swing. The great pincers of the scorpion have become more hooked and point upward, which allows them to snag branches and hang from them with ease. The legs have changed to be more like arms, with even the upper two pairs fusing together to better look the part. These appendages are used for grasping food or holding onto tree trunks as they climb. These adaptations are important because anglertails pretty much never set foot on the ground. From birth to death, they remain up amongst the branches, especially so since their limbs work terribly on land. If one is ever knocked off a branch and they fall to earth, they will struggle to crawl to safety. It is why their hooked pincers are so good at holding on, as falling down is pretty much a death sentence. Indeed they can slowly crawl or feebly swim to the nearest tree trunk, but they are sitting ducks the entire time.

The other adaptation to note is their stinger tails, which are iconic to all scorpions. With how they orient their body, these tails hang downward, with their hooked stinger swinging freely. These tails are prehensile and quite strong, but they aren't really used for climbing. I am guessing you already know what they are used for instead! Indeed, the anglertail has a taste for fish, and their specially shaped stinger is how they get their meals. These scorpions find low hanging branches that position them right above the water, so that their stingers can dip just below the surface. With their tails deployed, they will then bob and wiggle these hooks to catch the attention of fish, as the movements help mimic struggling prey. They remain still and silent as they wait for the fish to approach, hoping for one to take the bait. The second one of them tries to swallow the stinger, the scorpion whips the tail upward and digs that hooked spike into the fish's maw. The stinger possesses a weak venom that targets the nervous system, looking to cut down on the struggling of its prey. This is not exactly potent, but that isn't necessary because the anglertail is often able to dispatch its food with ease. With the stinger set, the anglertail pulls its tail up, bringing the flopping fish up with it. One of its limbs will grab hold and rip the fish off the hook, then bring it up to the mouth for eating. Tiny little spines lining their arms aid with holding onto slippery fish, as the second one drops its meal, every other creature nearby will rush in to steal it.

Like other anglers in the world, these scorpions have learned to go beyond simply wiggling a hook. Some of them have been seen actually baiting their stingers, spearing on pieces of fruit or meat to further entice their meals. Even if there are no morsels to offer, anglertails have been seen rubbing their stingers against aromatic sources, like carcasses, moldy fruit or even the remains of previous meals. This puts a scent on their hooks, which may better draw food. In some cases, anglertails will use the smaller fish they catch to bait bigger ones in, as they hope to hook something more than these small fry.

When not hunting, anglertails are active and vocal residents of the mangroves, swinging about the branches and using stridulation to let out clicking and growling calls. They seem to be quite social, hanging together in troops and even partaking in communal grooming. If a predator approaches, they stick close together to try and use numbers for intimidation. They all circle up and lash out with their stingers, looking to make any angle of approach dangerous for any attacker. Even if you dodge the tail and get close for a bite, one of those hooked pincers can come down and skewer you in the face. A hard exoskeleton not only protects from bumps and falls, but also makes them hardy against foes to give them more time to fight back.

During the breeding season, the act of egg laying actually involves both parents. The female will position herself so that she lays her eggs right into the waiting arms of the male. He will hold them and slowly bundle them up into a sticky ball, so that all the eggs are contained in a single cluster. Once done, the parents will take turns holding onto this egg cluster, handing it off as the other goes to fish for food. When the eggs hatch, the young will cling to their parents until they are old enough to climb for themselves. Young anglertails will actually spend their early years eating bugs and other critters found in the trees, until they gain the strength to go fishing.

Anglertails are well known in the regions they inhabit, as any visit to a mangrove will ensure an encounter. For fishing communities, there is obviously love for them, as they find respect for fellow anglers. It is claimed that anglertails are the species to look out for when going fishing, as they will direct you to the best spots. It is also advised to get a close look at what they bait their tails with, as that gives clues to what the fish want to eat. Other communities enjoy anglertails as well, but not in the buddy sense. These scorpions are caught and cooked for food, with their big pincers providing juicy meat to enjoy. Their hooked appendages are later used for tools and weapons. For colonies of mangrove dryads, the anglertail is a pleasant neighbor that occasionally swings by or hangs from their limbs. Some colonies have developed some kind of deal with their scorpions, using their angling abilities to get fish. A mangrove arm can position an anglertail just right for fishing, and it can also lend a helping hand when they hook a big one. Working together, they can catch large fish and split the haul. Mangrove dryads also provide shelter for their young and can fish fallen scorpions out of the water before predators can swoop in. It should be noted that this deal doesn't necessarily mean that the anglertails are domesticated. It is just that they have found an agreement with these particular colonies. Some folk who visit tend to think these scorpions are pets, and thus can be treated that way. While they do get along a lot better than their wilder brethren, do not think you can get close to these things and play with them. Even the friendliest encounter can still lead to injuries, as mangrove bark is able to withstand the hooked claws they use for climbing. Human skin, or even regular dryad rind? Not so much.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-------------------------------------------------------

Jamming more invertebrates into ecosystems where they don't belong. If they can make it work then maybe there is hope for us.

Description

If you have ever taken a boat through the winding labyrinth of mangroves, then it is guaranteed that you have encountered this species. You can't miss them, as they swing from the branches and hang above the water-filled channels. At first, newcomers to these waters are fearful of them, as they see the claws and hanging hooked tails. However, you only need to watch them for a few moments to know that these creatures mean no harm to beings like us. The only target for their weaponry is the fishy food that dwells beneath the water's surface.

The anglertail scorpion is related to the arachnids, obviously the scorpion part of the family. While others in their group prefer a terrestrial life style, the anglertail has changed its anatomy to be more arboreal. The limbs that were once designed to scuttle and crawl have now been altered to climb and swing. The great pincers of the scorpion have become more hooked and point upward, which allows them to snag branches and hang from them with ease. The legs have changed to be more like arms, with even the upper two pairs fusing together to better look the part. These appendages are used for grasping food or holding onto tree trunks as they climb. These adaptations are important because anglertails pretty much never set foot on the ground. From birth to death, they remain up amongst the branches, especially so since their limbs work terribly on land. If one is ever knocked off a branch and they fall to earth, they will struggle to crawl to safety. It is why their hooked pincers are so good at holding on, as falling down is pretty much a death sentence. Indeed they can slowly crawl or feebly swim to the nearest tree trunk, but they are sitting ducks the entire time.

The other adaptation to note is their stinger tails, which are iconic to all scorpions. With how they orient their body, these tails hang downward, with their hooked stinger swinging freely. These tails are prehensile and quite strong, but they aren't really used for climbing. I am guessing you already know what they are used for instead! Indeed, the anglertail has a taste for fish, and their specially shaped stinger is how they get their meals. These scorpions find low hanging branches that position them right above the water, so that their stingers can dip just below the surface. With their tails deployed, they will then bob and wiggle these hooks to catch the attention of fish, as the movements help mimic struggling prey. They remain still and silent as they wait for the fish to approach, hoping for one to take the bait. The second one of them tries to swallow the stinger, the scorpion whips the tail upward and digs that hooked spike into the fish's maw. The stinger possesses a weak venom that targets the nervous system, looking to cut down on the struggling of its prey. This is not exactly potent, but that isn't necessary because the anglertail is often able to dispatch its food with ease. With the stinger set, the anglertail pulls its tail up, bringing the flopping fish up with it. One of its limbs will grab hold and rip the fish off the hook, then bring it up to the mouth for eating. Tiny little spines lining their arms aid with holding onto slippery fish, as the second one drops its meal, every other creature nearby will rush in to steal it.

Like other anglers in the world, these scorpions have learned to go beyond simply wiggling a hook. Some of them have been seen actually baiting their stingers, spearing on pieces of fruit or meat to further entice their meals. Even if there are no morsels to offer, anglertails have been seen rubbing their stingers against aromatic sources, like carcasses, moldy fruit or even the remains of previous meals. This puts a scent on their hooks, which may better draw food. In some cases, anglertails will use the smaller fish they catch to bait bigger ones in, as they hope to hook something more than these small fry.

When not hunting, anglertails are active and vocal residents of the mangroves, swinging about the branches and using stridulation to let out clicking and growling calls. They seem to be quite social, hanging together in troops and even partaking in communal grooming. If a predator approaches, they stick close together to try and use numbers for intimidation. They all circle up and lash out with their stingers, looking to make any angle of approach dangerous for any attacker. Even if you dodge the tail and get close for a bite, one of those hooked pincers can come down and skewer you in the face. A hard exoskeleton not only protects from bumps and falls, but also makes them hardy against foes to give them more time to fight back.

During the breeding season, the act of egg laying actually involves both parents. The female will position herself so that she lays her eggs right into the waiting arms of the male. He will hold them and slowly bundle them up into a sticky ball, so that all the eggs are contained in a single cluster. Once done, the parents will take turns holding onto this egg cluster, handing it off as the other goes to fish for food. When the eggs hatch, the young will cling to their parents until they are old enough to climb for themselves. Young anglertails will actually spend their early years eating bugs and other critters found in the trees, until they gain the strength to go fishing.

Anglertails are well known in the regions they inhabit, as any visit to a mangrove will ensure an encounter. For fishing communities, there is obviously love for them, as they find respect for fellow anglers. It is claimed that anglertails are the species to look out for when going fishing, as they will direct you to the best spots. It is also advised to get a close look at what they bait their tails with, as that gives clues to what the fish want to eat. Other communities enjoy anglertails as well, but not in the buddy sense. These scorpions are caught and cooked for food, with their big pincers providing juicy meat to enjoy. Their hooked appendages are later used for tools and weapons. For colonies of mangrove dryads, the anglertail is a pleasant neighbor that occasionally swings by or hangs from their limbs. Some colonies have developed some kind of deal with their scorpions, using their angling abilities to get fish. A mangrove arm can position an anglertail just right for fishing, and it can also lend a helping hand when they hook a big one. Working together, they can catch large fish and split the haul. Mangrove dryads also provide shelter for their young and can fish fallen scorpions out of the water before predators can swoop in. It should be noted that this deal doesn't necessarily mean that the anglertails are domesticated. It is just that they have found an agreement with these particular colonies. Some folk who visit tend to think these scorpions are pets, and thus can be treated that way. While they do get along a lot better than their wilder brethren, do not think you can get close to these things and play with them. Even the friendliest encounter can still lead to injuries, as mangrove bark is able to withstand the hooked claws they use for climbing. Human skin, or even regular dryad rind? Not so much.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-------------------------------------------------------

Jamming more invertebrates into ecosystems where they don't belong. If they can make it work then maybe there is hope for us.