Arachnids & Myriapods Codexery

Tityus serrulatus

Brazil's most dangerous scorpion, responsible for the most fatal stings.

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This species is found only in Brazil, and its venom is regarded as highly poisonous.[1][2] Reproduction in this species typically occurs without fertilization by a male.[3]

Scientific classification

  1. KingdomAnimalia
  2. PhylumArthropoda
  3. SubphylumChelicerata
  4. ClassArachnida
  5. OrderScorpiones
  6. FamilyButhidae
  7. GenusTityus
  8. SpeciesTityus serrulatus

Named by Lutz & Mello, 1922

Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Tityus serrulatus (CC BY-SA 4.0)

How big is it?

Size comparison: Tityus serrulatus and a personA 0.07 m long tityus serrulatus drawn to scale next to a 1.8 m tall person. Schematic shapes, not a likeness.0.07 m1.8 m

Largest length in the source, 0.07 m, next to a 1.8 m person.

Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Tityus serrulatus

Where the tityus serrulatus has been recorded

Where the tityus serrulatus has been recorded3 mapped locations from 975 GBIF occurrence records

Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (975 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 180 inland records left out (institution coordinates).

Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)

Quick Facts

Species
serrulatus

Facts from the source article.

Biology and range

Like other Buthidae, it has a bulbous, segmented tail carried in a forward curve over the back.[4] According to Rogério Bertani of the Butantan Institute, deforestation and urbanization are increasing the species' presence.[5][6] Reported scorpion stings in Brazil increased from 12,000 in 2000 to 140,000 by 2018.[7] Most stings occur in urban areas, inside or near homes.[8]

The length of adult individuals usually falls between 5 and 7 cm.[4] The legs and pedipalps are pale yellow, while the trunk and the end of the tail are a darker yellowish brown.[4] At the tip of the tail is a barb that injects venom, used to immobilize prey or for defense.[4] Rising scorpion numbers in cities are linked to plentiful food sources such as cockroaches and a scarcity of natural enemies.[7]

What the specialist sources record

The same study reported that the chromatographic profiles of venom from the two populations were qualitatively similar.[2] The Guardian reported in 2018 that the yellow scorpion has adapted from its traditional savannah habitat to survive in sewers, garbage, and rubble.[6] A 2018 Guardian article noted that deaths from this scorpion are most strongly associated with the pediatric age group.[6] The GBIF Backbone Taxonomy accepts Tityus serrulatus as a species in the family Buthidae, with 1,215 occurrence records as of 20 October 2026.[9]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Tityus serrulatus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Prevention of Bug Bites, Stings, and Disease", Oxford University Press, 2009, p. 236; Cologna, "Tityus serrulatus Scorpion Venom and Toxins: An Overview", Protein and Peptide Letters, 2009-07-31, p. 920–932 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Oliveira, "Toxicidade da peçonha de Tityus serrulatus procedente do Distrito Federal por meio da avaliação da DL50, efeitos da peçonha e edema pulmonar induzido", 2011-02-28. facts only, no text reused. repositorio.unb.br
  3. Wikipedia, "Tityus serrulatus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Prevention of Bug Bites, Stings, and Disease", Oxford University Press, 2009, p. 236; Lourenço, "What do we know about some of the most conspicuous scorpion species of the genus Tityus? A historical approach", Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases, 2015, p. 20 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Tityus serrulatus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Mario da Rosa, "New record and occurrence map of Tityus serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil", Check List, 2015-01-26, p. 1556; Mario da Rosa, "New record and occurrence map of Tityus serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil", Check List, 2015-01-26, p. 1556; Mario da Rosa, "New record and occurrence map of Tityus serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southe en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Tityus serrulatus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Scorpion deaths on rise in Brazil as arachnid adapts to urban life", The Guardian, 2018-07-15 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  6. "Scorpion deaths on rise in Brazil as arachnid adapts to urban life", The Guardian, 2018-07-15. facts only, no text reused. theguardian.com
  7. Wikipedia, "Tityus serrulatus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Carvalho, "Venomous yellow scorpions are moving into Brazil's big cities – and the infestation may be unstoppable", The Conversation, 11 February 2019; Carvalho, "Venomous yellow scorpions are moving into Brazil's big cities – and the infestation may be unstoppable", The Conversation, 11 February 2019 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Tityus serrulatus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Brazil Ministry of Health. "Acidente por Animais Peçonhentos." ACIDENTE POR ANIMAIS PEÇONHENTOS." Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). 2017 ; Lourenço, "The Evolution of Scorpionism in Brazil in Recent Years", Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins, 1996, p. 121–134; Horta, "Molecular, Immunological, and Biological Characterization of Tityus serrulatus Venom Hyaluronidase: New Insights into Its Role in Envenomation", PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2014-02-13; Barros, "Clinical and epidemiological aspects of scor en.wikipedia.org
  9. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy and occurrence index, Tityus serrulatus (taxon key 6893860). CC BY 4.0 (backbone); counts are facts. gbif.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Tityus serrulatus (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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