Heterometrus swammerdami

Heterometrus swammerdami
A Giant Forest Scorpion from the Western ghats in Karnataka, India
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Scorpionidae
Genus: Heterometrus
Species: H. swammerdami
Binomial name
Heterometrus swammerdami
Simon, 1872
Trinomial name
Heterometrus swammerdami titanicus


Heterometrus swammerdami is one of the largest scorpion species in the world. It can reach lengths of over 20 centimetres (7.9 in) and can weigh as much as 56 grams (2.0 oz). Its venom is not usually lethal to humans because it has evolved to kill its prey by crushing it with its pincers and not by venom. Subspecies H. swammerdami titanicus, Couzijn,1981, can be found in Sri Lanka and India. It is the largest scorpion found in Indian Subcontinent.

External links