Tityus obscurus

Tityus obscurus
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.

Description and behavior

It is one of the largest Tityus species, growing up to 65-100 mm. More characterized by its black color, flattened body and legs and claws that are relatively thin, something specific to this species. It's terrestrial and nocturnal, during the day It hides under the stones, logs or loose bark, at night goes out to hunt its preys like insects and arthropods. Juveniles have a brown body and appendix, stained with dark.

Range and habitat

They are found in the tropical and sub-tropical forests of northern South America (Brazil, French Guiana and Suriname), mainly in the amazon rainforest.

Venom

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. In Guyana, a 16-year-old boy died 16 hours after being bitten by this species. In Guyana, in a 12-month period 3 people died, two children and a 30-year-old man, both had local pain, and soon developed to vomiting and persistent leukocytosis, both died after developing cardiopulmonary failure and dysrhythmias. The median lethal dose for this species is 3.13 mg / kg (i.p.).