Tityus serrulatus
Tityus serrulatus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Scorpiones |
Family: | Buthidae |
Genus: | Tityus |
Species: | T. serrulatus |
Binomial name | |
Tityus serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 | |
Tityus serrulatus, the Brazilian yellow scorpion, is a species of scorpion belonging to the family Buthidae. It is native to Brazil and its venom is extremely toxic. It is considered the most dangerous scorpion in Brazil.[1] It is usually parthenogenetic.[1] It has a diet of insects such as cockroaches and is suited to life in sewers and trash heaps in urban areas. Having a low metabolic rate, it can survive for months without eating.
"Due to deforestation and growing urbanization, this species is becoming more and more present," according to Rogério Bertani in an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian[2]. He is a scientist and scorpion specialist at the Butantan Institute in São Paulo. "I personally think that the problem will continue to grow."
References
- 1 2 Daniel Strickman, Stephen P. Frances & Mustapha Debboun (2009). Prevention of Bug Bites, Stings, and Disease. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-536578-8.
- ↑ [Scorpion deaths on rise in Brazil as arachnid adapts to urban life