Hottentotta tamulus

Last updated

Hottentotta tamulus
Scorpion Photograph By Shantanu Kuveskar.jpg
Hottentotta tamulus from Mangaon, Maharashtra, India
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Buthidae
Genus: Hottentotta
Species:
H. tamulus
Binomial name
Hottentotta tamulus
(Fabricius, 1798) NMPC [notes 1] (male, neotype) [1]
Synonyms [1]
  • H. tamulus concanensis(Pocock, 1900)
  • H. tamulus sindicus(Pocock, 1900)
  • H. tamulus gujaratensis(Pocock, 1900)
  • H. tamulus gangeticus(Pocock, 1900)
  • Scorpio tamulusFabricius, 1787
  • Buthus nigro lineatusDufour, 1856
  • Buthus grammurusThorell, 1889
  • Buthus tamulus concanensisPocock, 1900
  • Buthus tamulus sindicusPocock, 1900
  • Buthus tamulus gujaratensisPocock, 1900
  • Buthus tamulus gangeticusPocock, 1900

Hottentotta tamulus, the Indian red scorpion, also known as the eastern Indian scorpion, is a species of scorpion of the family Buthidae. It occurs in most of India, [2] eastern Pakistan [1] and the eastern lowlands of Nepal, [3] and recently from Sri Lanka. [4]

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was named Scorpio tamulus by J.C. Fabricius in 1798. [5] The species name was apparently derived from the occurrence in the state/province of the Tamil people of southeastern India. It was later often referred to the genera Buthus or Mesobuthus , although it was already correctly placed in Hottentotta by A. A. Birula in 1914, [6] a referral that was confirmed again by F. Kovařík in 2007. [1] Nevertheless, the binomen Mesobuthus tamulus is traditionally widespread in the popular and scientific literature. R.I. Pocock (1900) [7] distinguished five subspecies according to coloration and distribution, but these are color-morphs (individuals with varying color) rather than subspecies. [1]

Description

Hottentotta tamulus from Satara, Maharashtra, India Hottentotta tamulus.jpg
Hottentotta tamulus from Satara, Maharashtra, India

Total body length is about 50 to 90 mm. Males with flexed proximal margins of pedipalp fingers. Manus of pedipalps is also wider than female. There are 30 to 39 pectinal teeth in males, and 27 to 34 in females. Chelicerae are yellow and reticulated. Pedipalps are densely hirsute, whereas legs and metasoma are sparsely hirsute. Patella of pedipalps covered with short setae. Mesosoma is darker than rest of the body. Ventral carinae on metasomal segments are black. Chela without carinae. Dorsum densely and very finely granulated. Dorsum bears two short, inconspicuous marginal carinae. Telson is granulated. [8]

The walking legs and the tip of the pedipalp pincers are bright orange-yellow to light reddish-brown in color. The mesosomal tergites always bear three distinct carinae. Their habitus is typical of buthid scorpions, with rather small pedipalp pincers, moderately thickened metasomal segments and a rather bulbous telson with large stinger. The base of the pedipalp pincers (manus) is slightly more inflated in males than in females. [1]

Toxicity

This species is of great medical significance in densely populated areas of India and Nepal and occasionally causes human fatalities. [3] [9] [10] Fatality rates of 8–40% have been reported in clinical studies; most victims are children. [9] [11]

Symptoms of envenomation by this species include: [3] [9] [10] [12]

The venom mainly affects the cardiovascular and pulmonary system, eventually leading to a pulmonary oedema, which may cause death. [9] [10] Scorpion antivenom has little effect in clinical treatment but application of prazosin reduces the mortality rate to less than 4%. [10] [13] As in other scorpions, the venom of H. tamulus consists of a complex mixture of proteins. Some major components have been isolated, including the toxin tamapin. Scorpion envenomation with high morbidity and mortality is usually due to either excessive autonomic activity and cardiovascular toxic effects or neuromuscular toxic effects. Antivenin is the specific treatment for scorpion envenomation combined with supportive measures including vasodilators in patients with cardiovascular toxic effects and benzodiazepines when there is neuromuscular involvement. Although rare, severe hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis to scorpion antivenin (SAV) are possible. [14]

Habitat and ecology

Despite its medical importance, little is known about the ecology and habitat preferences of this species. [10] It is widespread across vegetated lowlands with subtropical to tropical, humid climate and often lives close to or in human settlements, especially in rural areas. A study [15] from Saswad-Jejuri, Pune (western India) has found H. tamulus in a wide range of microhabitats, including scrubland and veld with stones, red and black soil in cropland, loamy, grassy and stony hillslopes and -tops, black soil in mango orchards, Eucalyptus plantations, and under tree bark. With an abundance of 48.43% it was by far the most abundant of the six scorpion species recorded in this study. It occurs rather seldom under tree bark, a habitat dominated by its sister species Hottentotta pachyurus (8.9% versus 91.1% abundance). As all other scorpions, H. tamulus is nocturnal, preying upon small invertebrates and even small vertebrates like lizards. [16] Encounters with humans mainly occur during the night or early morning, when the scorpions accidentally crawl into beds or fall from ceilings. [10]

In Sri Lanka

Originally, H. tamulus was not found in Sri Lanka. But from 2010 to 2013, experiments and other medical reports suggest that the species is also present in Sri Lanka. [4] Few deaths were recorded from Jaffna peninsula in recent times. After observing medical reports and patients, a research team found three dead scorpion specimens and five live specimens as well. After series of observations from research team and other international scientists, it was revealed that the scorpion specimens belong to the species H. tamulus.

Deaths from H. tamulus were recorded in 2006, 2007 and 2009 as one patient per year. No cases were recorded in 2010. In 2011, 12 children in Jaffna died due to H. tamulus stings. In 2012, 80 patients were recorded. Out of them, 52% were female, 48% were male. 30% from them were children between the age 3 and 12. [4]

In 2013, many H. tamulus stings were recorded, as many as four each week, again mostly in women and children. Usually, the drug Prazosin is recommended for H. tamulus stings. The drug can reduce the increasing blood pressure.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ No specimen number specified.

Related Research Articles

<i>Gigantometrus swammerdami</i> 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 at 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.

Iberiotoxin (IbTX) is an ion channel toxin purified from the Eastern Indian red scorpion Hottentotta tamulus. Iberiotoxin selectively inhibits the current through large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels.

<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>Heterometrus</i> Genus of scorpions

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, and China (Hainan). It is notable for containing some of the largest living species of scorpions.

<i>Mesobuthus eupeus</i> Species of scorpion

Mesobuthus eupeus is a polymorphic scorpion species belonging to the well-known family Buthidae. Commonly known as the lesser Asian scorpion or the mottled scorpion. It is thought to be the most widely dispersed species of the genus Mesobuthus, perhaps even of the family Buthidae.

Himmatrao Saluba Bawaskar is an Indian physician from Mahad, Maharashtra. He is known for his research on treatment for scorpion stings. Much of his work has been published in the British medical journal The Lancet. He has also conducted research in the fields of snake bites, cardiovascular diseases, and hypothyroidism.

<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>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.

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

<i>Lychas srilankensis</i> Species of scorpion

Lychas srilankensis is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. It is endemic to 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.

Hottentotta jabalpurensis is a species of scorpion, belonging to the family Buthidae. It was first found in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Hottentotta jalalabadensis is a species of scorpion of the family Buthidae. It was first found in Afghanistan.

Hottentotta stockwelli is a species of scorpion of the family Buthidae. It was first found in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, India.

<i>Hottentotta conspersus</i> Species of scorpion

Hottentotta conspersus, the Sesriem scorpion, is a species of scorpion of the family Buthidae.

<i>Charmus</i> (scorpion) Genus of scorpions

Charmus is a genus of buthid scorpions native to India and Sri Lanka.

Reddyanus ranawanai is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae endemic to Sri Lanka.

<i>Hottentotta rugiscutis</i> Species of scorpion

Hottentotta rugiscutis is a species of scorpion which is endemic to India.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kovařík, F. (2007). "A revision of the genus Hottentotta Birula, 1908, with descriptions of four new species" (PDF). Euscorpius . 58: 1–105. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  2. ↑ Bastawade, D.B.; S.S. Jadhav & R.M. Sharma (2012). Scorpionida (PDF). Zoological Survey of India. pp. 1–16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Bhadani, U.K.; M. Tripathi; S. Sharma & R. Pandey (2006). "Scorpion sting envenomation presenting with pulmonary edema in adults: a report of seven cases from Nepal". Indian Journal of Medical Sciences . 60 (1): 19–23. doi: 10.4103/0019-5359.19672 . PMID   16444084.
  4. 1 2 3 Kularatne, Senanayake A.M.; Dinamithra, Nandana P.; Sivansuthan, Sivapalan; Weerakoon, Kosala G.A.D.; Thillaimpalam, Bhanu; Kalyanasundram, Vithiya; Ranawana, Kithsiri B. (January 2015). "Clinico-epidemiology of stings and envenoming of Hottentotta tamulus (Scorpiones: Buthidae), the Indian red scorpion from Jaffna Peninsula in northern Sri Lanka". Toxicon. 93: 85–89. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2014.11.225. PMID   25450799.
  5. ↑ Fabricius, F. C. (1798). Entomologiae Systematicae, Supplementum (in Latin). Vol. 5. Hafniae: Proft & Storck. p. 572. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  6. ↑ Birula, A. A. (1914). "Ergebnisse einer von Prof. Franz Werner im Sommer 1910 mit Unterstützung aus dem Legate Wedl ausgeführten zoologischen Forschungsreise nach Algerien. VI. Skorpione und Solifugen" [Results of a zoological expedition to Algeria carried out by Prof. Franz Werner in the summer of 1910 with support from Legate Wedl. VI. Scorpions and solifuge]. Sitzungsberichte der kaiserlich-königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien (in German). 123 (1): 633–668.
  7. ↑ Pocock, R.I. (1900). Arachnida. The Fauna of India, including Ceylon and Burma. London: W.T. Blandford. pp. xii+279.
  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 29 August 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Bawaskar, H.S.; P.H. Bawaskar (1998). "Indian red scorpion envenoming". Indian Journal of Pediatrics . 65 (3): 383–391. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(95)00005-7. PMID   10771989.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bawaskar, H.S.; P.H. Bawaskar (2008). "Scorpion sting: A study of clinical manifestations and treatment regimes" (PDF). Current Science . 95 (9): 1337–1341.
  11. ↑ Bawaskar, H.S. (1977). "Scorpion sting and cardiovascular complications". Indian Heart Journal . 29 (4): 228. PMID   562842.
  12. ↑ Kanoo, S.; M. B. Mandal; A. B. Alex & S. B. Deshpande (2009). "Cardiac dysrhythmia produced by Mesobuthus tamulus venom involves NO-dependent G-Cyclase signaling pathway". Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology . 379 (5): 525–532. doi:10.1007/s00210-008-0375-7. PMID   19037630. S2CID   23872549.
  13. ↑ Bawaskar, H.S.; P.H. Bawaskar (2007). "Utility of scorpion anti-venin vs. prazosin in the management of severe Mesobuthus tamulus (Indian red scorpion) envenoming at rural settings" (PDF). Journal of the Association of Physicians of India . 55: 14–21. PMID   17444339. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  14. ↑ Bhoite RR, Bhoite GR, Bagdure DN, Bawaskar HS (2015). "Anaphylaxis to scorpion antivenin and its management following envenomation by Indian red scorpion, Mesobuthus tamulus". Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine . 19 (9): 547–549. doi: 10.4103/0972-5229.164807 . PMC   4578200 . PMID   26430342.
  15. ↑ Pande, S.; D. Bastawade; A. Padhye & A. Pawashe (2012). "Diversity of scorpion fauna of Saswad-Jejuri, Pune district, Maharashtra, western India". Journal of Threatened Taxa . 4 (2): 2381–2389. doi: 10.11609/jott.o2910.2381-9 .
  16. ↑ Ythier, E. (2007). "Pictures of the previous months". The Scorpion Fauna. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.