Buthidae
Mesobuthus martensii
The Buthidae are the largest family of scorpions ( Scorpiones ), with currently 919 species in 87 genera.
Features
The Buthidae are mostly small to medium-sized scorpions with a triangular to pentagonal chest plate. The tail of the most representative is built wide and very strong, but individual species have narrower tails. Likewise, the gripping legs can be made narrow or strong. The coloring of the species varies from yellow to dark brown and more rarely black. The height varies from about 20 millimeters in Microtityus and Microbuthus species to 120 millimeters in the species of several genera.
Among the Buthidae there are some species with a very strong poison, about 20 species can thereby be fatal for humans. The strongest poisons are found in species of the genera Androctonus, Centruroides, Hottentotta, Leiurus, Tityus and Parabuthus.
Distribution and habitat
Types Buthidae are common in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. They live under rocks and in crevices as well as in small, partially to 40 centimeters deep caves.
System
The following genera are summarized as Buthidae:
- Afghanobuthus Lourenço, 2005
- Afroisometrus Kovarík, 1997
- Akaranocharmus Lourenço, 2004
- Akentrobuthus Lamoraal, 1976
- Alayotityus Armas, 1973
- Ananteris Thorell, 1891
- Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828
- Anomalobuthus Kraepelin, 1900
- Apistobuthus Finnegan, 1932
- Australobuthus Locket, 1990
- Babycurus Karsch, 1886
- Baloorthochirus Kovarik, 1996
- Birulatus Vachon, 1974
- Buthacus Birula, 1908
- Butheoloides Hirst, 1925
- Butheolus Simon, 1882
- Buthiscus Birula, 1905
- Buthoscorpio Werner, 1936
- Buthus Leach, 1815 (Field Scorpio)
- Centruroides Marx, 1890 ( Centruroides vittatus )
- Charmus Karsch, 1879
- Cicileus Vachon, 1948
- Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949
- Congobuthus Lourenço, 1999
- Darchenia Vachon, 1977
- Egyptobuthus Lourenço, 1999
- Grosphus Simon, 1880
- Hemibuthus Pocock, 1900
- Hemilychas Hirst, 1911
- Himalayotityobuthus Lourenço, 1997
- Hottentotta Birula, 1908
- Iranobuthus Kovarík, 1997
- Isometroides Keyserling, 1885
- Isometrus Ehrenberg, 1828
- Karasbergia Hewitt, 1913
- Kraepelinia Vachon, 1974
- Lanzatus Kovarik, 2001
- Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828
- Liobuthus Birula, 1898
- Lissothus Vachon, 1948
- Lychas C. L. Koch, 1845
- Lychasioides Vachon, 1974
- Mauritanobuthus Qi & Lourenço, 2007
- Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950
- Mesotityus Gonzáles - Sponga, 1981
- Microananteris Lourenço, 2003
- Microbuthus Kraepelin, 1898
- Microcharmus Lourenço, 2005
- Microtityus Kjellesvig - waering, 1966
- Neobuthus Hirst, 1911
- Neogrosphus Lourenço, 1995
- Neoprothobuthus Lourenço, 2000
- Odontobuthus Vachon, 1950
- Odonturus Karsch, 1879
- Orthochiroides Kovarík, 1998
- Orthochirus Karsch, 1891
- Pantobuthus Lourenço & Duhem, 2009
- Parabuthus Pocock, 1890
- Pectinibuthus Fet, 1984
- Mello - Leitao Physoctonus, 1934
- Plesiobuthus Pocock, 1900
- Polisius Fet, Capes & Sissom, 2001
- Psammobuthus Birula, 1911
- Pseudolissothus Lourenço, 2001
- Pseudolychas Kraepelin, 1911
- Pseudouroplectes Lourenço, 1995
- Razianus Farzanpay, 1987
- Rhopalurus Thorell, 1876
- Riftobuthus Lourenço, Duhem & CLOUDSLEY - Thompson 2010
- Sabinebuthus Lourenço, 2001
- Saharobuthus Lourenço & Duhem, 2009
- Sassandiothus Farzanpay, 1987
- Simonoides Vachon & Farzanpay, 1987
- Somalibuthus Kovarík, 1998
- Somalicharmus Kovarík, 1998
- Thaicharmus Kovarík, 1995
- Tityobuthus Pocock, 1893
- Tityopsis Armas, 1974
- Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836
- Troglorhopalurus Lourenço Baptista & Giupponi, 2004
- Troglotityobuthus Lourenço, 2000
- Uroplectes Peters, 1861
- Uroplectoides Lourenço, 1998
- Vachoniolus Levi, Amitai & Shulov, 1973
- Vachonus Tikader & Bastawade, 1983
- Zabius Thorell, 1893
Buthidae and people
Buthidae have a medical relevance to humans because of their poisons. In addition, species of this family are preferably kept by enthusiasts as terrarium animals.