Colour preference and antipotentiation to physical perturbation stimulus in Euscorpius balearicus

Abstract

In this study, I explored whether the Balearic scorpion, Euscorpius balearicus, shows a preference for resting in particular coloured zones following a perturbing stimulus, and whether this behaviour changes over time, in a manner phenomenologically mentioned here as antipotentiation. The scorpion subject was placed in a glass cup split into four colour zones, and was gently provoked into movement by pushes from a wooden stick. The colour quadrant they initially rested in, and the one they chose after provocation were noted for 75 instances. It was found that over time, the number of provocations required to trigger movement increased, and the distance that the scorpion absconded from the stimulus decreased per stimulation; even considering the possible effects of fatigue, this potentially indicates antipotentiation, as is discussed. Analysis of colour preferences leans towards no significant preference for a particular colour zone.