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Within the arthropod invertebrates, there is the class of arachnids that includes the order Scorpiones, commonly known as scorpions or scorpions. Yes, you read that right! Scorpions and spiders share the same class since they are evolutionarily related.
To get into the subject, from Ecologist Verde we will teach you the different types of scorpions and we will do a brief review of the families that make up the order. So if you want to find out how many types of scorpions there are and what they are, read on!
How many species of scorpions are there
Throughout the planet Earth there are around 2,000 species of scorpions grouped in 13 families. All of them are characterized by presenting specialized venom to obtain the greatest effectiveness when it comes to catching their prey, but there is no need to worry, only between 30 and 40 species of those 2,000 are scorpions or scorpions so poisonous as to be capable of cause death to people, the rest can cause some type of allergy or poisoning.
In the following sections we will show you different types of scorpions and also what are the poisonous scorpions and which ones are not.
Argentine scorpion
One of the types of scorpions from Argentina are those of the genre Tityus, in particular Tityus argentinus. Its appearance is easy to distinguish: dark gray body with yellow or brown limbs. Regarding its venom, it presents neurotoxins that affect the nervous system of its prey, even that of humans. However, it is not an aggressive species, it only bites to defend itself.
Image: Cinnabar Blog
Morelos scorpion or scorpion
The Morelos scorpion (Centruroides limpidus), It's one of the types of scorpions from Mexico -and the world- most poisonous. The Morelos scorpion sting causes severe problems in the respiratory system of people. It can measure up to 12 cm and has a brownish coloration, mainly in its pincers.
Common yellow scorpion
One of the types of scorpions from Spain more typical is the common yellow scorpionButhus occinatus) which is also distributed by Italy and France. Its name precisely refers to its appearance since it has a yellowish color although darker on the body. Regarding its poison, although it is of medium danger, it can be lethal for children and the elderly.
Black tailed scorpion
East black-tailed scorpionAndroctonus bicolor) Not only does it have a black tail, but its entire body is dark in color and robust in appearance. Its distribution includes Africa and the Middle East and its powerful poison affects the nervous system and can be lethal.
Emperor scorpion
The emperor scorpionPandinus imperator), is one of the largest scorpion species in the world. Its body is robust, dark in color and measures approximately 20 cm. Regarding its distribution, it is endemic to West Africa. Often, this species is commercialized in the pet market because its venom is mildly harmful, it does not cause major complications unless the person is allergic.
Thick-tailed spitting scorpion
The peculiar name of thick-tailed spitting scorpion refers to the fact that this species is capable of launching its venom at long distances, causing temporary blindness and eye damage. This scorpion (Parabuthus transvaalicus) is located towards the south-east of the African continent and can measure more than 15 cm.
Buenos Aires scorpion
To the Bothriurus bonariensis or Buenos Aires scorpion it is common to find it in Argentina, Uruguay and southern Brazil. Its body is medium in size and its bite is not lethal to people, in fact, sometimes the stinger does not even penetrate the skin.
Other types of scorpions
As we mentioned earlier, there are 13 families of scorpions. Next we will mention each one of them and we will list some of the species that they group together.
Family Buthidae
This family has more than 800 species distributed around the world, except New Zealand and Antarctica. Some examples are:
- Afghanobuthus naumanni
- Afroisometrus minshullae
- Butheloides annieae
- Compsobuthus abyssinicus
- Compsobuthus setosus
- Tityus bahoruco
- Tityus falconensis
- Rhopalurus caribensis
- Rhopalarus junceus
- Pantobuthus complicatus
Family Bothriuridae
Within this family, made up of 158 species, are scorpions from tropical and temperate climates of the southern hemisphere. Among them we mention:
- Bothriurus buecherli
- Bothriurus burmeisteri
- Bothriurus prospicuus
- Bothriurus rochensis
- Bothriurus noa
- Brachistosternus angustimanus
- Thymogenes dorbignyi
- Thymogenes elegans
- Urophonius iheringii
- Vachonia martinezi
Family Caraboctonidae
Made up of 23 species, all of them have in common the presence of sensory hairs on their body, which is why they are often called hairy scorpions. As an example we mention:
- Hadrurus hirsutus
- Hadrurus arizonensis
Family Chactidae
With approximately 170 species which are distributed by the United States, Central America and South America. Among them we name:
- Anuroctonus phaiodactylus
- Anuroctonus pococki
- Broteochactas colombiensis
- Yekuanae sprout
- Chactas braziliensis
- Chactas laevipes
- Nullibrotheas allenii
- Teuthraustes wittii
- Vachoniochactas amazonicus
- Vachoniochactas ashleeae
Family Chaerilidae
It is a characteristic family of South Asia, with approximately 20 species. Some of them are:
- Chaerilus assamensis
- Chaerilus borneensis
- Chaerilus cavernicola
- Chaerilus insignis
- Chaerilus julietteae
- Chaerilus kampuchea
Family Euscorpiidae
They are characterized by being harmless scorpions. There are a total of 59 species, the best known is Megacormus grubbsi, the short-tailed scorpion endemic to Mexico.
Family Hemiscorpiidae
The approximately 100 species of this family, grouped into 12 genera, are characterized by the large size of their bodies, which reach 20 cm in length. The best known genus is Opisthacanthus, whose species are found in America and Africa. Some of them are:
- Opisthacanthus brevicauda
- Opisthacanthus cayaporum
- Opisthacanthus elatus
- Opisthacanthus lecomtei
- Opisthacanthus darainensis
- Opisthacanthus lucienneae
- Opisthacanthus maculatus
- Opisthacanthus asper
- Opisthacanthus basutus
- Opisthacanthus capensis
Family Iuridae
Species typical of the United States and Asia belong to this family. Two of them are: Anlasi calchas Y Nordmanni calchas
Family Microcharmidae
Only 15 species make up this family and they are all very small, in fact they measure between 0.8 to 1.8 cm in length. The 15 species are:
- Microcharmus antongil
- Microcharmus bemaraha
- Microcharmus cloudsleythompsoni
- Microcharmus confluenciatus
- Microcharmus djangoa
- Microcharmus duhemi
- Microcharmus fisheri
- Microcharmus hauseri
- Microcharmus jussarae
- Microcharmus maculatus
- Microcharmus madagascariensis
- Microcharmus pauliani
- Microcharmus sabineae
- Microcharmus variegatu
- Microcharmus violaceus
Family Pseudochactidae
It is a family made up of few species, all of them with a light, long and fine body. The species are:
- Pseudochactas mischi
- Pseudochactas ovchinnikovi
- Troglokhammouanus louisanneorum
- Troglokhammouanus steineri
- Vietbocap aurantiacus
- Vietbocap canhi
- Vietbocap lao
- Vietbocap quinquemilia
- Vietbocap thienduongensis
Family Scorpionidae
With more than 260 species, grouped into 16 genera, this family is characterized by the large size of the bodies, reaching 25 cm in length. As an example we mention:
- Heterometrus fulvipes
- Heterometrus gravimanus
- Heterometrus indus
- Heterometrus kanarensis
- Pandinus imperator
- Pandinus gambiensis
- Pandinus philippsii
- Tarsoporosus flavus
- Tarsoporosus kugleri
- Tarsoporosus macuira
Family Superstitioniidae
Made up of only 10 species, this family is distributed throughout North America. The most characteristic species is Superstitionia donensis
Vaejovidae family
This family is made up of more than 170 species, which are found in North and Central America. The most iconic genre is Vaejovis and some of its species are:
- Vaejovis brysoni
- Vaejovis coalcoman
- Vaejovis carolinianus
- Vaejovis dzahui
- Vaejovis electrum
- Vaejovis feti
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