Fattail scorpion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| iFattail Scorpion | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Arabian fat-tailed scorpion, Androctonus crassicauda
|
||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
13 species, see article. |
Fattail scorpion is the common name given to scorpions of the genus Androctonus, which is one of the most dangerous groups of scorpion species in the world[citation needed]. They are found throughout the semi-arid and arid regions of the Middle-East and Africa. They are a moderate sized scorpion, attaining lengths of 10 cm (just under 4"). Their name is derived from their distinctly fat metasoma, or tail. Their venom contains powerful neurotoxins and is especially potent. Stings from Androctonus species are known to cause several human deaths each year. The German pharmaceutical company Twyford manufactures an antivenin for treatment of Androctonus and two closely related genera, Buthus, and Leiurus, envenomations.[1]
[edit] Taxonomy
Taxonomic reclassification is ongoing, sources tend to disagree on the number of species.
- Androctonus amoreuxi (Audouin, 1826)
- Androctonus australis (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Androctonus baluchicus (Pocock, 1900)
- Androctonus bicolor (Ehrenberg, 1828)
- Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807)
- Androctonus dekeyseri (Lourenço, 2005)
- Androctonus finitimus (Pocock, 1897)
- Androctonus gonneti (Vachon, 1948)
- Androctonus hoggarensis (Pallary, 1929)
- Androctonus liouvillei (Pallary, 1924)
- Androctonus maelfaiti (Lourenço, 2005)
- Androctonus mauritanicus (Pocock, 1902)
- Androctonus sergenti (Vachon, 1948)
[edit] In captivity
Despite the inherent risks with keeping such a dangerously venomous species in captivity, Androctonus are frequently found in the exotic animal trade, A. amoreuxi and A. bicolor being the most commonly available. Great care must be taken when considering such a species for a pet because a sting could have very serious consequences.
