Heterometrus bengalensis

Heterometrus bengalensis, the Indian black scorpion, is a species of scorpions belonging to the family Scorpionidae.[1] It was discovered by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1841.[2]

Heterometrus bengalensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Scorpionidae
Genus: Heterometrus
Species:
H. bengalensis
Binomial name
Heterometrus bengalensis
(C. L. Koch, 1841)

Description

Adult specimens of Heterometrus bengalensis grow to a length of 95 to 115 millimeters and a dark reddish-brown to light-brown body color. The combs of the pecten organ have 14 to 17 teeth in both sexes. The chela, femora, and patella of the pedipalps are narrower and longer in the males than in the females. The surfaces of the chelae are uneven, but without pronounced granules and keels. The telson is hairy and spherical, with a poison bladder that is longer than the stinger. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Heterometrus bengalensis originates from the Indian states of West Bengal and Odisha. This species lives in dry areas, preferably on the edges of ditches, on which thicker vegetation with shrubs provides ideal shade and cover. Older distribution data, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Maharashtra, may be based on confusion with other species of the genus Heterometrus[4]

Venom

The venom of this species has been subject to cancer study. Specifically on leukemia.[5] The protein bengalin, isolated from this species, is a large protein of 72 kDa.5 It induces apoptosis in human leukemic cells in vitro. Bengalin also shows efficacy in a rat model of osteoporosis but also displays subacute cardiotoxicity.

References
  1. "Catalogue of Life : Heterometrus bengalensis (C.L.Koch, 1841)". Catalogue of Life. 2020-04-16. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  2. "Arachnid taxa" (PDF). britishspiders.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  3. "Indian black scorpion articles - Encyclopedia of Life". Encyclopedia of Life (in German). Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  4. "Indian black scorpion articles - Encyclopedia of Life". Encyclopedia of Life (in German). Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  5. "Indian Black Scorpion (Heterometrus Bengalensis Koch) Venom Induced Antiproliferative and Apoptogenic Activity Against Human Leukemic Cell Lines U937 and K562". pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
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