Читать книгу The World's Most Dangerous Animals - Kevin Baker Baker - Страница 10

Deathstalker in the Negev desert, Isreal. Image author: Ester Inbar.

The Israeli Yellow scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus), also known as the Omdurman, Palestine Yellow, Israeli Desert, or Deathstalker scorpion (among many other names) is a member of the Buthidae family. Many other members of the Leiurus genus within this family are also known as ‘Deathstalkers’.

These scorpions are typical three to four inches long, depending on the gender (males are usually smaller) and their environment. Their colouration ranges from straw yellow to greenish yellow. They have a long, thin tail and long, thin legs. Their pincers are large, but weak, as is typical of highly venomous scorpions – where they rely on their strong venom to incapacitate prey, making up for their relatively ineffectual pincers.

In fact, the venom of the Israeli Yellow scorpion is considered to be the 3rd deadliest scorpion venom in the world. While it will not typically kill a healthy human adult outright, the young, old, and infirm (in this case meaning having a heart condition, or an allergy) have a significant chance of meeting death if stung. Even without a pre-existing allergy, anyone stung runs the risk of developing anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to the venom. If the sting does prove fatal, the second most common cause of death is pulmonary edema. Even if someone survives the sting, they have an increased chance of developing pancreatitis later on.

There have been some anti-venoms developed. However, the venom of the Israeli Yellow scorpion has proven highly resistant to treatment. These anti-venoms are not at the time of writing fully approved by the FDA, and are considered experimental.

As with many other animal and plant venoms, the venom of the Israeli Yellow scorpion may have some medicinal properties. It is a cocktail of several neurotoxins: Chlorotoxin, Charybdotoxin, Scyllatoxin, and Agitoxins type 1, 2 and 3. Chlorotoxin has shown some potential in treating human brain tumors, and some of the others may aid in the regulation of insulin and could be used to treat diabetes.

The natural habitat of this particular species of scorpion is throughout the Middle East and North Africa. They favour hot, humid climates.

The Israeli Yellow scorpion is considered a dangerous exotic animal by many legal jurisdictions. Many require a special license to keep one as a pet, or to display one in a zoo. Some municipalities, and even a few countries, have banned this dangerous scorpion outright.