Beware

About 25 species in eight general posses potent venoms capable of killing humans. With exception of snakes and bees, scorpions cause more deaths than any other nonparasitic group of animals. More than 5,000 perople are thought to die each year from scorpion stings. In Mexico alone, five species of Centuroides caused an average of 1,696 deaths per year during the 1950īs.

The family Buthidae

Scorpions are major health hazards in parts of India (Buthotus tamulus), North Africa and the Middle East (Androactonus, Buthus occitanus, Buthotus minas, Leirus quinquestriatus), South America and the West Indies (Tityus, Rhopolarus), and South Africa (Parabuthus). All these species are members of the family Buthidae. Buthids pruduce a complex neurotoxin that causes local and systemic effects. Severe convulsions, paralysis, and cardiac irregularities precede death. Death can be avoided if antivenoms are administrated(now available against most lethal species).

Are they all dangerous?

The venoms of more than 1,200 other species are not deadly. These species produce hemotoxins that cause mild to strong local effects, including edema, discoloration, and pain. Victims fully recover in minutes or in a matter of days.