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.
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.
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 fasciolatus is a species of scorpion from the family Buthidae. The species are 4.5–8.5 centimetres (1.8–3.3 in) in length and are yellowish-brown coloured. They also have three dark stripes over the mesosoma with either yellowish or orange pedipalps, which have dark spots as well. Their first to third segments of metasoma is yellowish-orange, with the fourth one being reddish. Their fifth and final segment id dark red coloured. The species have yellow coloured legs which have dark spots, which are the same as on pedilap. Their tarsus is dark in colour with pectines that have 17-25 teeth, in which they have 16-18 rows of granules. T. fasciolatus is a species of medical importance, its venom is molecular and very similar to T. serrulatus, its venom contains at least 10 toxic fractions, with molecular masses ranging from 6 to 10-80 kDa, the LD50 for this species is 2.984 mg / kg.
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.
Tityus exstinctus is an extinct species of scorpion belonging to the family Buthidae. It is only known from a single male collected in 1884 in the northern range of Martinique. The species epithet based on the fact that this taxon was already extinct when it was described.
Tityus tenuicauda is a species of scorpions in the family Buthidae. This species is endemic to the island of Trinidad in Trinidad and Tobago.
Buthoidea is the largest superfamily of scorpions. Its members are known as fat-tailed scorpions and bark scorpions. A few very large genera are known, but a high number of species-poor or monotypic ones also exist. They occur in the warmer parts of every major landmass on Earth, except on New Zealand. The superfamily was established by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1837.
TsIV is a toxin from the venom of the Brazilian scorpion Tityus serrulatus which slows the inactivation of sodium channels.
Tityus pococki is a species of scorpion belonging to the family Buthidae.
Tityus apozonalli is an extinct species of scorpion in the family Buthidae known from a fossil found in North America. The species is one of two scorpions described from Mexican amber and one of seven species from Central American amber deposits.
Ananteris nairae is a scorpion species found in Brazilian Amazonia. The species has the most western distribution of the species in Ananteris. The specific epithet refers to Nair Otaviano Aguiar.
Tityustoxin peptide 2 (TsPep2) is a peptide isolated from the venom of the Tityus serrulatus. It belongs to a class of short peptides, together with Tityustoxin peptide 1 and Tityustoxin peptide 3.
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.
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.
Tityus asthenes is a significantly venomous scorpion endemic to South America. Sometimes it is known as Peruvian black scorpion.
