Tityus | |
---|---|
Tityus discrepans | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Scorpiones |
Family: | Buthidae |
Genus: |
Tityus Koch, 1836 |
Species | |
More than 200, see text |
More than 200, see text
Tityus is a large genus of thick-tailed scorpions (family Buthidae), the namesake of its subfamily Tityinae. As of June 2012[update],Tityus contains more than 200 described species distributed in Central America and South America, from Costa Rica to Argentina.
The genus contains several dangerously venomous scorpions, the best known of which is the Brazilian yellow scorpion, T. serrulatus. Its venom can cause severe illness (including pancreatitis), and in the young, old and infirm even death.