STUDIES ON THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE SPINY-TAILED LIZARD UROMASTYX-AEGYPTIUS (AGAMIDAE) AND THE BLACK SCORPION ANDROCTONUS-CRASSICAUDA (BUTHIDAE)

The spiny-tailed lizard Uromastyx aegyptius and the black scorpion And roctonus crassicauda are frequently found together in nature. This rel ationship has been studied under laboratory conditions. No interaction s were observed between the diurnal lizard and the nocturnal scorpion either during the day or the night. These animals are mutually toleran t, and immunological studies confirmed that the scorpion never stings the lizard. The lizard furnishes shelter for the scorpion in a locatio n full of cohabiting prey and the scorpion provides protection for the lizard by stinging its enemies.