Hottentotta tamulus: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 19:50, 14 April 2010

Indian red scorpion
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Chelicerata
Class:
Arachnida
Order:
Scorpiones
Family:
Buthidae
Genus:
Hottentotta
Species:
H. tamulus
Binomial name
Hottentotta tamulus
(Fabricius, 1798)
Type strain
NMPC[notes 1] (male, neotype)[1]


Hottentotta tamulus, the Indian red scorpion is a species of scorpion belonging to the family Buthidae. It occurs in most of India, eastern Pakistan[1] and the eastern lowlands of Nepal.[2]

Taxonomy

This species was named Scorpio tamulus by J.C. Fabricius in 1798.[3] The species name was apparently derived from the occurrence in the country of the Tamil people of south-eastern 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[4], 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. Pocock (1900)[5] distinguished five subspecies according to coloration and distribution, but these are color-morphs (individuals with varying color) rather than subspecies.[1]

Description

H. tamulus specimen range in size from 50-90 mm. The coloration ranges from brightly red-brown through dull brown with darker grey carinae (ridges) and granulation. Grey spots might be distributed irregularly across the cephalothorax and the mesosoma. The walking legs and the tip of the pedipalp pincers are brighter colored (orange to light reddish-brown). 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 causes occasionally human fatalities.[6][7][2] It is rated the most lethal scorpion species in the world.[8] Fatality rates of 8-40% have been reported in clinical studies, most victims are children.[9][6]

Symptoms of envenomation by this species include:[6][7][10][2]

The venom mainly affects the cardiovascular and pulmonary system, eventually leading to a pulmonary oedema, which may cause death.[6][7]. Scorpion antivenom has little effect in clinical treatment but application of prazosin reduces the mortality rate to less than 4%.[11][7] 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.

Habitat and ecology

Despite its medical importance, few is known about the ecology and habitat preferences of this species.[7] It is widespread across vegetated lowlands with humid climate and often lives close to or in human settlements, especially in rural areas. As all other scorpions, H. tamulus is nocturnal, preying upon small invertebrates and even small vertebrates like lizards.[12] Encounters with humans mainly occur during the night or early morning, when the scorpions accidentally crawl into beds or fall from ceilings.[7]

External links

  • Images of various Hottentotta species, including H. tamulus: Exotics.nl.

Notes

  1. ^ No specimen number specified.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c 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" (PDF). Indian Journal of Medical Sciences. 60 (1): 19–23.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Fabricius, F. C. (1798). Entomologiae Systematicae, Supplementum (in Latin). Vol. 5. Hafniae: Proft & Storck. p. 572. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  4. ^ Birula, A. A. (1908). "Ergebnisse der mit Subvention aus der Erbschaft Treitl unternommenen zoologischen Forschungsreise Dr. F. Werner's nach dem Anglo-Aegyptischen Sudan und Nord-Uganda. XIV. Skorpiones und Solifugae". Sitzungsberichte der kaiserlich-königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien (in German). 117 (1): 121–152.
  5. ^ Pocock, R.I. (1900). Arachnida. The Fauna of India, including Ceylon and Burma. London: W.T. Blandford. pp. xii+279.
  6. ^ a b c d 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.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Bawaskar, H.S. & P.H. Bawaskar (2008). "Scorpion sting: A study of clinical manifestations and treatment regimes" (PDF). Current Science. 95 (9): 1337–1341. Retrieved 14 April 2010. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  8. ^ Ismail, M. (1995). "The scorpion envenoming syndrome". Toxicon. 33 (7): 825–858. doi:10.1007/BF02761131.
  9. ^ Bawaskar, H.S. (1977). "Scorpion sting and cardiovascular complications". Indian Heart Journal. 29: 228.
  10. ^ 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-Schmiedberg's Archives of Pharmacology. 379 (5): 525–532. doi:10.1007/s00210-008-0375-7.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ 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). JAPI. 55: 14–21. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  12. ^ Ythier, E. (2007). "Pictures of the previous months". The Scorpion Fauna. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
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