Chersonesometrus tristis

Chersonesometrus tristis, commonly known as the Mysore Forest Scorpion, is a rare species in the UK. It is native to India, particularly in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. It is a large scorpion previously classified as Heterometrus mysorensis but has since been reclassified in 2020 based on taxonomic revisions.

HABITAT

🌍Geographic Range:

Chersonesometrus tristis is found in forested areas in India, with sightings recorded at locations like the Kaigal Falls in Andhra Pradesh. Its distribution primarily centered in Sri Lanka.

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🏡Microhabitat Preferences:

Chersonesometrus tristis (Mysore Forest Scorpion) lives in the rocky hill ranges of southern India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu).

Its habitat is:

Landscape: rocky granite and sandstone slopes, ravines, and outcrops on the Deccan Plateau.

Climate: semi-arid to dry deciduous woodland, hot much of the year, with seasonal monsoon rains.

Microhabitat: hides under large stones, in rock crevices, or short burrows where it finds cooler, more humid pockets of moisture compared to the surrounding dry environment.

CAPTIVE CARE

📏Enclosure Size:

A single adult does well in about 30 × 30 × 20 cm.

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🌱Substrate:

Dry topsoil, wet one side of the enclosure to allow for a humidity gradient _______________________________________

🌡️Temperature:

24–30°C

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💧Humidity:

60%

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STATS

LATIN NAME:

• Chersonesometrus tristis

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COMMON NAME:

• Mysore Forest Scorpion

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TEMPERATURE:

• 24°- 30°

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TEMPERAMENT:

• May Pinch, rarely sting

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HUMIDITY:

• 60%

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COMMUNAL:

• Yes

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SIZE:

• Up to 14cm

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ECOLOGY:

• Terrestrial

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SUBSTRATE:

• Top Soil

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ORIGIN:

• Sri lanka

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FACTS

The name Chersonesometrus tristis has an interesting origin rooted in both Greek and Latin. The genus name Chersonesometrus comes from the Greek word “Chersonesos,” meaning peninsula, combined with elements from Heterometrus, a closely related scorpion genus. This reflects both its geographical association with the Indian peninsula and its taxonomic connection to the broader Asian forest scorpions in the Heterometrus group.

The species name tristis is Latin for sad, grim, or gloomy. It was most likely chosen to describe the animal’s dark, somber appearance. Taken together, the name can be understood as “the gloomy peninsula scorpion related to Heterometrus,” a fitting description for a species that inhabits the rocky, shaded hills of southern India.