Distribution of dangerous scorpions in Brazilian Amazonia

It is well known that the scorpion fauna of South America and Brazil hosts scorpions of medical importance, particularly in the genus Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836 (Buthidae). The number of species listed as potential dangerous in the medical literature has been (and is) quite low. This is problematic as the number of new species in this region has increased considerably in the last four decades. It is highly probable that the number of species of medical importance is higher than previously suggested.

Wilson Lourenco address this problem in a recently published article. Here he presents a list of potential dangerous species in the genus Tityus (subgenus Atreus) in Brazilian Amazonas and their distribution. Information on how to identify the different species is also given.

Abstract:
A geographical survey is proposed to thirteen species of the genus Tityus C. L. Koch, subgenus Atreus Gervais, distributed in Brazilian Amazonia. Since several of these species are of medical importance, their diagnoses are proposed and geographical distribution is discussed.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. The distribution of noxious species of scorpions in Brazilian Amazonia: the genus Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836, subgenus Atreus gervais, 1843 (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Entomol Mitt Zool Mus Hamburg. 2011;15(185):287-301.

Thanks to professor Lourenco for sending me this paper!