Tityus bahiensis is a medically important scorpion endemic to South America.

Tityus bahiensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Buthidae
Genus: Tityus
Species:
T. bahiensis
Binomial name
Tityus bahiensis
(Perty, 1833)
Subspecies
  • Tityus bahiensis bahiensis (Perty, 1833)
  • Tityus bahiensis eickstedtae Lourenço, 1982

Description and behavior

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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

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It feeds on cockroaches, mealworms, crickets, spiders and insect larvae.[citation needed]

Range and habitat

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The species occurs in Brazil (Minas Gerais, Goias, Sao Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul and Parana), Argentina and Paraguay.[3] The species is very common in agricultural areas.[2]

Reproduction

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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

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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]

References

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  1. ^ "Escorpionídeos". Fiocruz.br. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  2. ^ a b c "Living Hazards Database (LHD) – Search by Scientific Name" (PDF). Acq.osd.mil. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b Sabrina Outeda Jorge. "Corte e aspectos da biologia reprodutiva do escorpiao brasileiro : Tityus bahiensis" (PDF). Teses.usp.br. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  4. ^ Flindt, Rainer (2006-12-21). Amazing Numbers in Biology. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-3-540-30147-9.
  5. ^ Becerril, B.; Corona, M.; Coronas, F. I.; Zamudio, F.; Calderon-Aranda, E. S.; Fletcher, P. L.; Martin, B. M.; Possani, L. D. (1996-02-01). "Toxic peptides and genes encoding toxin gamma of the Brazilian scorpions Tityus bahiensis and Tityus stigmurus". The Biochemical Journal. 313 ( Pt 3) (Pt 3): 753–760. doi:10.1042/bj3130753. ISSN 0264-6021. PMC 1216974. PMID 8611151.