| Tityus obscurus | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | Buthidae |
| Genus: | Tityus |
| Species: | T. obscurus |
| Binomial name | |
| Tityus obscurus Gervais 1843 | |
Tityus obscurus, known as the Amazonian black scorpion, is a species of scorpion found in northern South America.
It is one of the largest Tityus species, growing up to 65–100 mm. [1] It is characterized by its black color, flattened body and legs, and relatively thin claws. It is terrestrial and nocturnal. During the day it hides under stones, logs or loose bark, venturing out at night to hunt its prey, chiefly insects and arthropods. [2] Juveniles have a brown body and darkened appendix. [3]
They are found in the tropical and sub-tropical forests of northern South America, mainly in the amazon rainforest of Brazil, French Guiana and Suriname. [4]
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. [4] [2] In Guyana, a 16-year-old boy died 16 hours after being stung by this species. [5] In Guyana, in a 12-month period three people died, two children and a 30-year-old man. In all these cases, they experienced local pain that soon developed into vomiting and persistent leukocytosis. They all died after developing cardiopulmonary failure and dysrhythmias. [6] The median lethal dose from this species is 3.13 mg / kg (i.p.). [7]
Presumably, Tityus obscurus has been responsible for acute cerebellar dysfunction with neuromuscular manifestations in 58 patients in Santarém, Pará, Brazil. Symptoms such as cerebellar ataxia, dysdiadochokinesia, dysmetria, dysarthria, dyslalia, nausea and vomiting where reported to last for up to two days. Some patients presented myoclonus and fasciculations. Two had intense rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury. [8]
A spider bite, also known as arachnidism, is an injury resulting from the bite of a spider. The effects of most bites are not serious. Most bites result in mild symptoms around the area of the bite. Rarely they may produce a necrotic skin wound or severe pain.
Phoneutria nigriventer is a species of medically significant spider in the family Ctenidae, found in the Southern Cone of South America. Along with other members of the genus, they are often referred to as Brazilian wandering spiders.
Latrodectism is the illness caused by the bite of Latrodectus spiders. Pain, muscle rigidity, vomiting, and sweating are the symptoms of latrodectism.
Tityustoxin is a toxin found in the venom of scorpions from the subfamily Tityinae. By binding to voltage-dependent sodium ion channels and potassium channels, they cause sialorrhea, lacrimation and rhinorrhea.
Tityus is a large genus of thick-tailed scorpions, the namesake of its subfamily Tityinae. As of 2021, Tityus contains more than 220 described species distributed in Central America and South America, from Costa Rica to Argentina. Species in the genus Tityus have been studied for hundreds of years, long before the taxonomic classification was put in place. Tityus tend to be of medium size for scorpions, roughly 50 to 70 millimeters long. They are dark brown or red in color, and can exhibit sexual dimorphism. They can live in a variety of environments, ranging from urban to arid mountains to the Amazon Rainforest. Tityus scorpions are best known for their venom and potent sting. The genus contains several dangerously venomous scorpions, the best known of which is the Brazilian yellow scorpion, T. serrulatus. Its venom can cause severe illness, and in the young, old and infirm even death. Some experts have argued that the genus as a whole may be paraphyletic, which could explain the knowledge gaps related to Tityus.
A scorpion sting is an injury caused by the stinger of a scorpion resulting in the medical condition known as scorpionism, which may vary in severity. The anatomical part of the scorpion that delivers the sting is called a "telson". In typical cases, scorpion stings usually result in pain, paresthesia, and variable swelling. In serious cases, scorpion stings may involve the envenomation of humans by toxic scorpions, which may result in extreme pain, serious illness, or even death depending on the toxicity of the venom.
Tityus serrulatus, the Brazilian yellow scorpion, is a species of scorpion of the family Buthidae. It is native to Brazil, and its venom is extremely toxic. It is the most dangerous scorpion in South America and is responsible for the most fatal cases.
Tityus stigmurus is a species of scorpion from the family Buthidae that can be found in Brazil. The species are 4.5–6 centimetres (1.8–2.4 in) in length and are either golden-tan or yellowish-brown coloured. It takes them a year to mature into an adult, which makes them a fast-growing species. They also have a dark stripe over the mesosoma with either yellowish or orange pedipalps.
TsIV is a toxin from the venom of the Brazilian scorpion Tityus serrulatus which slows the inactivation of sodium channels.
Scorpionism is defined as the accidental envenomation of humans by toxic scorpions. If the injection of venom in a human results in death, this is defined as scorpionism. This is seen all over the world but is predominantly seen in the tropical and subtropical areas. These areas include Mexico, northern South America and southeast Brazil in the Western hemisphere. In the Eastern hemisphere, scorpionism possess a public health threat in the regions of South Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent.
Tityus bahiensis is a medically important scorpion endemic to South America.
Loxosceles intermedia, the Brazilian brown recluse spider, is a highly venomous spider species in the family Sicariidae native to Brazil and Argentina.
Snakebite envenomation is considered a public health problem in Latin America, with an estimated 70,000 cases annually, but due to underreporting, these numbers may be even higher.
Tityus discrepans is a species of scorpion found in northern and north-eastern South America.
Tityus pachyurus is a species of arachnid endemic to Central America and South America.
Tityus silvestris is a species of arachnid endemic to northern South America.
The Tst26 toxin is a voltage-gated potassium channel blocker present in the venom of Tityus stigmurus, a species of Brazilian scorpion. Tst26 selectively blocks Kv1.2 and Kv1.3 channels.
List of reported attacks and species involved in Latin America.
Ts8 is a neurotoxin present in the venom of the Brazilian yellow scorpion, Tityus serrulatus. Ts8 is a selective inhibitor of the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv4.2
Tb1 is a neurotoxin that is naturally found in the venom of the Brazilian scorpion Tityus bahiensis. Presumably by acting on voltage-gated sodium channels, it triggers excessive glutamate release, which can lead to both behavioral and electrographic epileptiform alterations, as well as neuronal injury.
| Authority control databases: National |
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