Tityus bahiensis
Species of scorpion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tityus bahiensis is a medically important scorpion endemic to South America.
| Tityus bahiensis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | Buthidae |
| Genus: | Tityus |
| Species: | T. bahiensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Tityus bahiensis (Perty, 1833) | |
| Subspecies | |
| |
Description and behavior
It usually reaches 6 cm in length.[1] Its cephalothorax and tergites are dark, with reddish brown above, light legs with black spots, pedipalp is usually light brown, with a dark brown on the part of the tibia, the post-abdomen is pale brown, but often reddish-brown. its telson is reddish, the tips of the pincers and the stinger are brown or black, which is a way of identifying the species. the immature, are often reddish. Tityus bahiensis is a nocturnal scorpion, and not aggressive; they generally avoid humans, but if threatened will defend themselves.[2]
Diet in captivity
It feeds on cockroaches, mealworms, crickets, spiders and insect larvae.[citation needed]
Range and habitat
Reproduction
Mating can occur at any time of the year, but usually in November to April; the gestation time varies from 2 to 12 months, giving birth to between 2 and 25 offspring.[3]
Venom
It is primarily responsible for envenomation cases in rural areas, and is often cited as the second most toxic of its kind, behind only T. serrulatus.[citation needed] Its neurotoxic venom causes symptoms such as severe pain, edema, sweating, lethargy, tachycardia, pulmonary edema, dyspnea, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal complications, nausea, vomiting and changes in blood pressure.[2] The LD50 for its venom is 0.5 mg/kg.[4] The most prevalent toxin found in the venom of T. bahiensis is Tb1, accounting for 10% of the entire soluble venom content. [5]