Indian Red Scorpion

The **Indian red scorpion** (also known as **eastern Indian scorpion**), is a species of scorpion, belonging to the family Buthidae. It occurs in most of India, eastern Pakistan and the eastern lowlands of Nepal and recently from Sri Lanka.

## Taxonomy

This species was named *Scorpio tamulus* by J.C. Fabricius in 1798. The species name was apparently derived from the occurrence in the country of the Tamil people of south-eastern India. It was later often referred to the genera *Buthus* or *Mesobuthus*, although it was already correctly placed in *Hottentotta* by A. A. Birula in 1914, a referral that was confirmed again by F. Kovařík in 2007. Nevertheless, the binomen ***Mesobuthus tamulus*** is traditionally widespread in the popular and scientific literature. R.I. Pocock (1900) distinguished five subspecies according to coloration and distribution, but these are color-morphs (individuals with varying color) rather than subspecies.

## Description

*H. tamulus* specimen range in size from 50–90 mm. The coloration ranges from dark orange or brightly red-brown through dull brown with darker grey carinae (ridges) and granulation. Grey spots might be distributed irregularly across the cephalothorax and the mesosoma. The walking legs and the tip of the pedipalp pincers are brighter colored (orange-yellow to light reddish-brown). The mesosomal tergites always bear three distinct carinae. Their habitus is typical of buthid scorpions, with rather small pedipalp pincers, moderately thickened metasomal segments and a rather bulbous telson with large stinger. The base of the pedipalp pincers (manus) is slightly more inflated in males than in females.

### **Toxicity**

This species is of great medical significance in densely populated areas of India and Nepal and occasionally causes human fatalities. It is rated amongst the most lethal scorpion species in the world. Fatality rates of 8–40% have been reported in clinical studies; most victims are children.

Symptoms of envenomation by this species include:

* Severe local pain
* Vomiting
* Sweating
* Priapism
* Cyanosis
* Unconsciousness
* Muscular convulsions
* Breathlessness
* Pink frothy sputum
* Cardiac dysrhythmia
* Tachycardia or bradycardia
* Hypotension or hypertension
* Acute myocarditis
* Shock

The venom mainly affects the cardiovascular and pulmonary system, eventually leading to a pulmonary oedema, which may cause death. Scorpion antivenom has little effect in clinical treatment but application of prazosin reduces the mortality rate to less than 4%. As in other scorpions, the venom of *H. tamulus* consists of a complex mixture of proteins. Some major components have been isolated, including the toxin tamapin. Scorpion envenomation with high morbidity and mortality is usually due to either excessive autonomic activity and cardiovascular toxic effects or neuromuscular toxic effects. Antivenin is the specific treatment for scorpion envenomation combined with supportive measures including vasodilators in patients with cardiovascular toxic effects and benzodiazepines when there is neuromuscular involvement. Although rare, severe hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis to scorpion antivenin (SAV) are possible.

## Habitat and Ecology

Despite its medical importance, little is known about the ecology and habitat preferences of this species. It is widespread across vegetated lowlands with subtropical to tropical, humid climate and often lives close to or in human settlements, especially in rural areas. A study from Saswad-Jejuri, Pune (western India) has found *H. tamulus* in a wide range of microhabitats, including scrubland and veld with stones, red and black soil in cropland, loamy, grassy and stony hillslopes and -tops, black soil in mango orchards, *Eucalyptus* plantations, and under tree bark. With an abundance of 48.43% it was by far the most abundant of the six scorpion species recorded in this study. It occurs rather seldom under tree bark, a habitat dominated by its sister species *Hottentotta pachyurus* (8.9% versus 91.1% abundance). As all other scorpions, *H. tamulus* is nocturnal, preying upon small invertebrates and even small vertebrates like lizards.[16] Encounters with humans mainly occur during the night or early morning, when the scorpions accidentally crawl into beds or fall from ceilings.