It usually reaches 6 cm in length.Its cephalothorax and tergites are dark, with reddish brown above, light legs with black spots, pedipalp is usually light brown, with a dark brown on the part of the tibia, the post-abdomen is pale brown, but often reddish-brown. its telson is reddish, the tips of the pincers and the stinger are brown or black, which is a way of identifying the species. the immature, are often reddish. Tityus bahiensis is a nocturnal scorpion, and not aggressive; they generally avoid humans, but if threatened will defend themselves.
Range and habitat
The species occurs in Brazil (Minas Gerais, Goias, Sao Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul and Parana), Argentina and Paraguay. The species is very common in agricultural areas.
Reproduction
Mating can occur at any time of the year, but usually in November to April; the gestation time varies from 2 to 12 months, giving birth to between 2 and 25 offspring.
Tityus bahiensis. Known as the brown scorpion, T. bahiensis has a dark trunk, legs and palps with dark spots and reddish brown tail. The adult measures about 7 cm and presents sexual reproduction. Source: Brazilian Ministry of Health. Image copyright by Denise Cândido, reproduced with permission.
The morphological characteristics of the specimen hereby described resemble those of the meridional T. bahiensis populations. Lourenço (15) refers that T. bahiensis Perty is a polymorphic species with serrated margins on the pedipalp tibia, and fingers with 17 oblique rows of granules; between 18 and 23 pectineal teeth; metasoma with 10-10-8-8-5 keels and a strong, spinoid subaculear tubercle. Tityus bahiensis populations include individuals of medium to large size (55-68mm).
Lourenço (14) reported that T. bahiensis specimens exhibit various pigmentation patterns depending on their geographic origin within Brazil. Accordingly, individuals from the southernmost areas of the species’ geographic range (e.g. São Paulo State, northern Argentina and Paraguay) bear more conspicuous and darker spots than those found on specimens from the northern areas (states of Goiás and Minas Gerais, Brazil), which consistently have smaller spots. The specimen hereby reported represents the second record of the species from Venezuela.
The first record was published by Rodríguez-Acosta and Reyes-Lugo (25) based on an individual found dead in a shoe box at an apartment building in eastern Caracas.
Tityus bahiensis, also known as black scorpion, is a species of scorpion from eastern and central Brazil. Measures 6 cm in length, has very dark coloration and brown paws.
