Tityus achilles is a toxungenous species of buthid scorpion from Colombia.[1]
| Tityus achilles | |
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| Tityus achilles, unsexed juvenile in situ | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | Buthidae |
| Genus: | Tityus |
| Species: | T. achilles
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| Binomial name | |
| Tityus achilles Laborieux, 2024
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Description
editTityus achilles is a medium-sized Tityus species, reaching roughly 65 mm at the adult stage.[2] Specimens of all ages exhibit a uniformly dark-red coloration, with a darker metasoma. It is a nocturnal, litter-dwelling species with no observed arboreal tendencies in juveniles, though the preferred microhabitat of mature specimens remains unclear.
Tityus achilles is currently the only known toxungenous scorpion on the South American continent[2]. When threatened, individuals of this species will engage in defensive spraying: toxins are projected forwards in a continuous stream of toxic secretion, acting as an irritant.[3] The effect of this secretion on human eyes or respiratory tissues is unclear.
Unlike most other scorpions, this species exhibits only a limited level of UV-induced fluorescence.[2]
Distribution
editTityus achilles is currently only known from its type locality in La Vega, Colombia.[2] The exact area of distribution of this scorpion species is unknown.
References
edit- ^ "Spraying venom and waiting in ambush are techniques for these new species".
- ^ a b c d Laborieux, Léo (2024-12-01). "Biomechanics of venom delivery in South America's first toxungen-spraying scorpion". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 202 (4). doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae161. ISSN 0024-4082.
- ^ Nisani, Zia; Hayes, William K. (June 2015). "Venom-spraying behavior of the scorpion Parabuthus transvaalicus (Arachnida: Buthidae)". Behavioural Processes. 115: 46–52. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2015.03.002. PMID 25748565.
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