Tityus GENUS IN VENEZUELA.
M. A. González-Sponga
Profesor Visitante Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Celular, CBB, IVIC, Caracas, Venezuela.
The species of the genus Tityus (Buthidae Family) show some characteristics that make them good to study for several reasons. 1) They have been shown to be highly dangerous to humans. 2) The number of envenomings, some of them with fatal outcomes, has increased. 3) This genus has the largest number of species in the Venezuelan scorpiofauna. 4) Their distribution coincides with areas of high human population density. 5) A significant increase in the number of scorpions has been observed in suburban areas. The genus Tityus comprised of 26 species until the end of 1996. However, this number has increased after finding the following eight new species: Tityus riocaurensis (Caura River, Bolívar State), Tityus rojasi (Las Trincheras, Carabobo State), Tityus nororientalis (Catuaro, Sucre State), Tityus surorientalis (Paso Nuevo-Uracoa, Monaguas State). Tityus margaritensis (Cerro Copey National Park, Nueva Esparta State), Tityus osmanus (Osma River, Federal District), Tityus ivic-nancor and Tityus sanarensis (surroundings of Sanare, Lara State). At present, descriptions of two other new species are in press: one from the northeast Bolívar State and the other from the Sierra Parima, Amazonas State. Another two species from the surroundings of Caracas and from Hato Arriba, Lara State are also in the process of description. Documenting the species of the genus Tityus is not complete as there are other species being collected, and there are also areas in the country in which a proper sampling has not been carried out. The problem related to scorpion envenoming is expected to grow in the near future due to two major factors: 1) The invasion of scorpion habitats by human activity. 2) The increase in the production of garbage with a consequent growth in Blattidae populations. Thus, some important measures must be taken: 1) To inform the population of the danger of scorpion envenoming. 2) To increase the production of antivenom. 3) To evaluate the need for the administration of polyvalent serum. 4) To teach the medical profession to recognize the symptoms and signs of envenomation, as well as to inform them on the correct administration of the antivenom.
Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
16 Apr 1999 -
Date of issue
1999
