Defensive behaviour plasticity in Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) facing different predator species

Abstract

Small species often fall prey to a wide range of predators in their natural habitats, and therefore require behavioural strategies to mitigate predation rates. In this study, we investigated the defensive behaviour of Ananteris mauryi, a small-bodied scorpion, against different natural predator species. Behavioural trials were conducted with A. mauryi individuals facing two different predators, spider and scorpion. Our results show that A. mauryi altered their defensive acts depending on the predator type, swinging their telson, cleaning their pedipalps, and run more frequently when facing spiders than scorpions. Additionally, we observed variation in the duration of behaviours according to predator type, with stinging attempts being performed more frequently against scorpions and run and metasoma swinging against spiders. Our findings suggest that scorpions have the ability to modulate their defensive behaviour according to the type of predator they face.