Tityus obscurus
Tityus obscurus, known as the Amazonian black scorpion, is a species of scorpion found in northern South America.
Tityus obscurus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Scorpiones |
Family: | Buthidae |
Genus: | Tityus |
Species: | T. obscurus |
Binomial name | |
Tityus obscurus Gervais 1843 | |
Description and behavior
It is one of the largest Tityus species, growing up to 65-100 mm.[1] More characterized by its black color, flattened body and legs and claws that are relatively thin, something specific to this species. It's terrestrial and nocturnal, during the day It hides under the stones, logs or loose bark, at night goes out to hunt its preys like insects and arthropods.[2] Juveniles have a brown body and appendix, stained with dark.[3]
Range and habitat
They are found in the tropical and sub-tropical forests of northern South America (Brazil, French Guiana and Suriname), mainly in the amazon rainforest.[4]
Venom
They have excitatory neurotoxins and cardiotoxins, symptoms already reported in humans include severe local pain, edema, profuse sweating, nausea, vomiting, spreading numbness, muscle twitch, convulsions, semicoma, somnolence, hallucinations, tachypnea, tachycardia, excessive drooling and prostration.[5][6] In Guyana, a 16-year-old boy died 16 hours after being bitten by this species.[7] In Guyana, in a 12-month period 3 people died, two children and a 30-year-old man, both had local pain, and soon developed to vomiting and persistent leukocytosis, both died after developing cardiopulmonary failure and dysrhythmias.[8] The median lethal dose for this species is 3.13 mg / kg (i.p.).[9]
References
- "Projeto: Estudo Genético de Tityus obscurus :: LEMAP UFPA". lemap-ufpa.webnode.com. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
- https://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/afpmb/docs/lhd/venomous_animals_byspecies.pdf
- http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/manual_controle_escorpioes.pdf
- "WCH Clinical Toxinology Resources". www.toxinology.com. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
- "WCH Clinical Toxinology Resources". www.toxinology.com. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
- https://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/afpmb/docs/lhd/venomous_animals_byspecies.pdf
- "Tityus stigmurus". Arachnoboards. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
- Iserson, Kenneth V.; Jagit Ramcharran, Sri Devi (2019-10-01). "Black Scorpion (Tityus obscurus) Fatalities in Guyana and a Literature Review". The Journal of Emergency Medicine. 57 (4): 554–559. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2019.07.018. ISSN 0736-4679.
- https://europepmc.org/article/med/28012802