Scorpion cohabitation was studied qualitatively and quantitatively for several years in the field and in controlled experimental
conditions in the laboratory. In the field, several cases were recorded of scorpions sharing the same shelter, either intra-
or interspecifically. Intraspecific cohabitation was more prevalent than interspecific cohabitation. Among the five scorpion
species studied here,
Compsobuthus werneri judaicus shows the highest degree of sociality and aggregates both intra- and interspecifically.
Leiurus quinquestriatus was never observed to cohabit interspecifically. Both
Buthotus judaicus and
C. werneri judaicus shared shelters with other scorpions more frequently during the wet season, whereas
Nebo hierichonticus and
Scorpio maurus fuscus cohabitated more often during the dry season. Under controlled laboratory conditions, density and availability of either
food or shelter appear to be significant in facilitating cohabitation, even in the more aggressive species.
Key words Scorpiones - Behavior - Aggressiveness - Social behavior - Habitat partitioning
Received: April 28, 1999 / Accepted: July 30, 1999