Hottentotta tamulus (Indian red scorpion)

Description

#Lethal

Size: 4~6cm
LD50: 1.3 ± 0.14 and 2.2 ± 0.21 mg/kg (juvenile and adult rats)

Hottentotta tamulus (Fabricius, 1798), the Indian red scorpion (Tamil: செந்தேள்; also known as the eastern Indian scorpion), is a species of scorpion belonging to the family Buthidae.

Indian red scorpions are not very large, ranging from 40 to 60 milimeters in length. The color of the species varies from orange to brown to grey, and they have dark grey spots scattered from the head on down to the lower back.

It occurs in most of India, eastern Pakistan and the eastern lowlands of Nepal, and recently from Sri Lanka.

The Indian red scorpion has been said to be the most lethal in the world. This tiny scorpion packs a huge punch. Fatality rates of 8–40% have been reported in clinical studies; most victims are children.

When stung, victims typically experience nausea, heart problems, discoloration of the skin, and, in more severe cases, pulmonary edema, an accumulation of fluid in the lungs.

Pulmonary edema causes shortness of breath and could lead to death. The severity of these symptoms depends on the amount of venom received and the susceptibility of the victim. According to clinical studies, however, prazosin, a drug for hypertension that is often given in the event of scorpion stings, reduces risk of mortality to 4%. 

Revision

Ref: https://dx.doi.org/10.18590/euscorpius.2007.vol2007.iss58.1

The following species and subspecies are synonymized:  
Buthus tamulus concanensis Pocock, 1900, Buthus tamulus gangeticus Pocock, 1900, Buthus tamulus gujaratensis Pocock, 1900 and Buthus tamulus sindicus Pocock, 1900 with H. tamulus (Fabricius, 1798) 

ABOUT SIZES

Scorpions usually sell by instar, a developmental stage between each moult.

However for pricing convenience, this is a personal GENERAL guideline.

1. Scorpling: i2 to i3
2. Juvenile: i3 to i4
3. Sub-adult: i4 to i5
4. Adult: i5 and above