Heterometrus

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Heterometrus
Heterometrus spinifer (Ehrenberg, 1828) Asian Forest Scorpion (6246043808).jpg
Heterometrus spinifer
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Scorpionidae
Genus: Heterometrus
Ehrenberg, 1828
Type species
Buthus (Heterometrus) spinifer
Ehrenberg, 1828 [1]
Diversity
8 species
Synonyms
  • PalamnaeusThorell, 1876

Heterometrus, whose members are also known by the collective vernacular name Asian Forest Scorpion, is a genus of scorpions belonging to the family Scorpionidae. It is distributed widely across tropical and subtropical southeastern Asia, including Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, India (Nicobar Islands, Andaman Islands), and China (Hainan). [2] [3] It is notable for containing some of the largest living species of scorpions.

Contents

Taxonomy

The genus was introduced by C.G. Ehrenberg (in Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1828), originally as a subgenus of the genus Buthus . [4] It was elevated to genus rank by F. Karsch in 1879. [1] H.W.C. Couzijn (1978, 1981) [5] [6] subdivided the genus into several subgenera, but F. Kovařík (2004) [2] synonymized these subgenera with the nominal genus. In 2020 the genus was reviewed by L. Prendini & S. F. Loria, three of the former subgenera were revalidated and elevated to genera and one valid subgenus was elevated to genus rank, species were transferred to appropriate genera, resulting in 28 new combinations. [3]

Diversity

The content of this genus may vary, depending on the authority. Eight species are known, many of which are quite similar in appearance: [7]

General characteristics

Members of Heterometrus are generally large-sized scorpions (100–200 mm or about 4-8  in total length). Coloration is dark in most species, often uniformly brown or black, sometimes with a greenish shine, with brighter-colored telson, walking legs, and/or pedipalp pincers in some species. The scorpions are heavily built with especially powerful and globose pedipalp pionkes, broad mesosomal tergites and a proportionally slender and thin metasoma. The telson is proportionally small and the stinger is often shorter than the vesicle. The cephalothorax and mesosoma are largely devoid of carinae and granulation and the median eyes are situated in a small, lenticular depression on the cephalothorax. Some species are parthenogenic. [2] [6]

Orthobothriotaxy type C. Pedipalp femur with three trichobothria and pedipalp patella consists with 19 trichobothria. Pedipalp chela with 26 trichobothria. Retrolateral pedal spurs are absent. Stridulatory organ is located on the opposing surfaces of pedipalp coxa and first leg. [8]

Toxicity

Heterometrus laoticus at Khao Yai National Park, Thailand Asian forest scorpion in Khao Yai National Park.JPG
Heterometrus laoticus at Khao Yai National Park, Thailand

As in other genera of the Scorpionidae, the symptoms from Heterometrus envenomations are rather mild and no human fatalities are known. [6] The sting causes local pain, inflammation, oedema, swelling, and redness of the skin, lasting for hours to a few days. Plant extracts known in the traditional Thai medicine as natural scorpion venom antidotes are effective as symptomatic treatment of H. laoticus stings. [9] The protein heteroscorpine-1 was found the major component of the venom in H. laoticus. [10]

Habitat for the scorpion

Species of Heterometrus live in vegetated, often forested, humid regions with subtropical to tropical climates. As most scorpions, they are predominantly nocturnal and hide in burrows, below logs, and in leaf litter.

In captivity

Due to their impressive size, low toxicity, and docile behavior, species of Heterometrus are popular pet scorpions. Unlike many other scorpions, they can be kept in pairs or small groups.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gigantometrus swammerdami</span> Species of arachnid

Gigantometrus Swammerdami, commonly called the giant forest scorpion, is a scorpion belonging to the family Scorpionidae. It is native to India and is the world's largest scorpion species with 23 cm in length, and weighs 56 g (2.0 oz).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buthidae</span> Family of scorpions

The Buthidae are the largest family of scorpions, containing about 100 genera and 1339 species as of 2022. A few very large genera are known, but a high number of species-poor or monotypic ones also exist. New taxa are being described at a rate of several new species per year. They have a cosmopolitan distribution throughout tropical and subtropical environments worldwide. Together with four other families, the Buthidae make up the superfamily Buthoidea. The family was established by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1837.

<i>Hottentotta</i> Genus of scorpions

Hottentotta is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. It is distributed widely across Africa, except for most of the Sahara desert. Species in the genus also occur in the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, southeastern Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Cape Verde Islands, and Sri Lanka (introduced).

<i>Leiurus</i> Genus of scorpions

Leiurus is a genus of scorpion of the family Buthidae. The most common species, L. quinquestriatus, is also known under the common name Deathstalker. It is distributed widely across North Africa and the Middle East, including the western and southern Arabian Peninsula and southeastern Turkey. At least one species occurs in West Africa.

<i>Pandinus</i> Genus of scorpions

Pandinus is a genus of large scorpions belonging to the family Scorpionidae. It contains one of the most popular pet scorpions, the emperor scorpion . The genus is distributed across tropical Africa.

<i>Heterometrus laoticus</i> Species of scorpion

Heterometrus laoticus or Vietnam forest scorpion, is a scorpion species found in peaty areas of Vietnam and Laos. They can reach lengths of 12 cm (4.7 in). They are a communal species, but cannibalism has been known to occur, and if caught, they can be extremely violent even towards their own kind.

<i>Buthus</i> Genus of arachnids

Buthus is a genus of scorpion belonging and being eponymous to the family Buthidae. It is distributed widely across northern Africa, including Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, as well as the Middle East, including Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and possibly Saudi Arabia and southern Turkey. Its European range includes the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, and Cyprus.

<i>Chaerilus</i> Genus of scorpions

Chaerilus is a genus of scorpions in the family Chaerilidae. They live in tropical parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia. A fossil genus Electrochaerilus is known from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) aged Burmese amber.

<i>Isometrus</i> Genus of scorpions

Isometrus is a genus of scorpion belonging and being eponymous to the family Buthidae. Some species are currently assigned to the genus Reddyanus.

Isometrus thwaitesi is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae endemic to Sri Lanka.

Reddyanus loebli is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scorpionidae</span> Family of arachnids

Scorpionidae is a family of burrowing scorpions or pale-legged scorpions in the superfamily Scorpionoidea. The family was established by Pierre André Latreille, 1802.

<i>Heterometrus spinifer</i> Species of scorpion

Heterometrus spinifer, the Asian forest scorpion, giant blue scorpion, or giant forest scorpion, is a species of scorpions belonging to the family Scorpionidae.

Srilankametrus gravimanus is a species of scorpion belonging to the family Scorpionidae. It is native to India and Sri Lanka.

<i>Srilankametrus indus</i> Species of scorpion

Srilankametrus indus, commonly known as the giant forest scorpion, is a species of scorpions belonging to the family Scorpionidae. It is native to India and Sri Lanka.

<i>Lychas</i> Genus of scorpions

Lychas is a genus of scorpions belonging to the family Buthidae. It is one of the most widespread genus of the scorpions, where the species are found throughout in Africa and Seychelles, and in the Oriental region from India to Melanesia.

<i>Reddyanus</i> Genus of scorpions

Reddyanus is a genus of buthid scorpions native to Oriental region from India, Sri Lanka, China: Tibet, to Melanesia. The genus was previously described as a subgenus of Isometrus.

Heterometrus serratus is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae endemic to Sri Lanka where it is restricted to southern parts.

Srilankametrus yaleensis is a species of scorpion in the family Scorpionidae endemic to Sri Lanka.

References

  1. 1 2 Karsch, F. (1879). "Skorpionologische Beiträge I.". Mitteilungen des Münchener Entomologischen Vereins (in German). 3: 6–22.
  2. 1 2 3 Kovařík, F. (2004). "A review of the genus Heterometrus Ehrenberg, 1828, with descriptions of seven new species (Scorpiones, Scorpionidae)" (PDF). Euscorpius . 15: 1–60.
  3. 1 2 Prendini, Lorenzo; Loria, Stephanie F. (14 October 2020). "Systematic revision of the Asian forest scorpions (Heterometrinae Simon, 1879), revised suprageneric classification of Scorpionidae Latreille, 1802, and revalidation of Rugodentidae Bastawade et al., 2005". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History . 442. American Museum of Natural History. 442: 1–480. doi:10.1206/0003-0090.442.1.1. ISSN   0003-0090. OCLC   613326018. S2CID   222348199.
  4. ↑ Hemprich, F.G.; C.G. Ehrenberg (1828). "Zoologica II. Arachnoidea. Plate I: Buthus; plate II: Androctonus.". Symbolae physicae seu icones et descriptiones animalium evertebratorum sepositis insectis quae ex itinere per Africam borealem et Asiam occidentalem (in Latin). Berlin: Officina Academica, Decas Prima. pp. Plates IX–X.
  5. ↑ Couzijn, H.W.C. (1978). "The method of polythetic analysis applied to a source of taxonomic difficulty: The genus Heterometrus H. & E., 1828 (Scorpionidae)". Symposium Zoological Society London. 42: 327–333.
  6. 1 2 3 Couzijn, H.W.C. (1981). "Revision of the genus Heterometrus Hemprich & Ehrenberg (Scorpionidae, Arachnoidea)" (PDF). Zoologische Verhandelingen . 184: 1–196.
  7. ↑ Rein, J.O. (2022). "Scorpionidae Latreille, 1802". The Scorpion Files. Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet . Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  8. ↑ Charles University; Kovařík, František; Lowe, Graeme; Monell Chemical Senses Center; Ranawana, Kithsiri B.; University of Peradeniya; Hoferek, David; Jayarathne, V. A. Sanjeewa; University of Peradeniya (2016). "Scorpions of Sri Lanka (Scorpiones: Buthidae, Chaerilidae, Scorpionidae) with description of four new species of the genera Charmus Karsch, 1879 and Reddyanus Vachon, 1972, stat. n". Euscorpius. 2016 (220): 1–133. doi: 10.18590/euscorpius.2016.vol2016.iss220.1 . Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  9. ↑ Uawonggul, N., Chaveerach, A., Thammasirirak, S., Arkaravichien, T., Chuachan, C., & Daduang, S. (2006). "Screening of plants acting against Heterometrus laoticus scorpion venom activity on fibroblast cell lysis" (PDF). Journal of Ethnopharmacology . 103 (2): 201–207. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.08.003. PMID   16169172. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-22.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ↑ Uawonggul, N., Thammasirirak, S., Chaveerach, A., Arkaravichien, T., Bunyatratchata, W., Ruangjirachuporn, W., Jearranaiprepame, P., Nakamura, T., Matsuda, M., Kobayashi, M., Hattori, S., & Daduang, S. (2007). "Purification and characterization of Heteroscorpine-1 (HS-1) toxin from Heterometrus laoticus scorpion venom". Toxicon . 49 (1): 19–29. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2006.09.003. PMID   17056081.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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