It's probably easier to list the Buthidae scorpions that have caused deaths.

This is a list of scorpions that have caused deaths (from Scorpions of the World, Ythier/Stockmann. Chapter on envenomations Max Goyffon)

Old World:

Androctonus australis, bicolor, crassicauda, mauritanicus

Buthus occitanus

Hottentotta franzwerneri, trinitatus, judaicus

Leiurus quinquestriatus

Parabuthus granulatus, transvaalicus

Hemiscorpius lepturus (family Hemiscorpiidae)

New World:

Centruroides infamatus, noxius, sculpturatus, suffusus

Tityus bahiensis, stigmurus, trinitatus

High risk species that have been attributed to at least one death:

Androctonus amoreuxi, hoggarensis

Hottentotta hottentotta

Mesobuthus gibbosus, martensii

Odontobuthus doriae

Parabuthus liosoma

Nebo, Pandinus, Heterometrus and Euscorpius have also caused deaths but it's likely they were caused by complications when stung i.e. allergic reaction. Although, Nebo spp. do have quite a nasty, necrotic venom.

The author does also mention that any large Buthidae scorpion (8 - 10cm +) should be considered potentially dangerous.

Locality, temperature, season and age can also effect how potent a scorpions venom is and/or how much they inject when envenomating.

Also, even for high risk species over 95% of people who are stung survive. Most scorpion fatalities occur in young children, people who are already ill and the elderly.

And for further look sees Notes on scorpions of medical significance - Scorpions - The Venom List - For All Things Venomous!

Lots of sting reports Sting Reports

Lots of links to sites regarding LD50s of scorpions and other venomous animals LD50 Table

 

oh thanks a lot Callum! : victory:

 

Having another read of the notes by Luc Ross really shows how difficult it is to pin down which species are harmless and which are not. There are so many variables to consider i.e. species that have low LD50 values but have never been attributed to human death, misidentification of scorpions, species which have caused severe sytematic envenomations in humans but have never killed (i.e. the potential is there but, luckily, no one has ever died) etc.

Really, it's no wonder DEFRA decided to list all Buthidae in the DWA Act when even researchers have difficulty deciding or receiving the information needed to conclude which species should be considered medically significant.

 

Yeah I'm having a look now, does seem very complex. It's not a big deal if I can't find solid evidence to prove a species isn't very dangerous, It is more if a focus on how some dangerous species are not on it, Sicarius hahni/terrosus being an example. I think someone on here emailed DEFRA a few years back asking if they were going to make any changes to the current 2007 list of species, I believe they got a response that, at least as far as inverts were concerned, they had no changes coming in the pipe line. I might email them again if I can't dig it up as that would be a good piece of info.

 

Is this just something you're wanting to research for yourself or are you wanting to question DEFRA directly on why they haven't included some potentiallydangerous species on the list?

 

It's for a small project (as in..tiny, not a dissertation or anything) at University. We were all given topics to work on as a group and I was given issues around the DWAA, my area to look at was discrepancies and how up to date the schedule of the act is. So specifically I might give examples such as in the family Sicariidae, only the genus Loxosceles is on the DWA, where as Sicarius sp are not despite it appeared they have highly necrotoxic venom.

Then we obviously have some Tarantulas which have pretty severe bite reports, which is why I was attempting to find reports on some of the less harmful Buthidae scorpions as a comparison, since most folks say the majority aren't life threatening (bar an allergic reaction) and a fair few have venom which gives less symptoms then the likes of a pokie bite or a bite from say an Asian T like a Haplo or a T from the Selenocosmia genus.

 

i havent seen ever any of the scorpion which is non poisonus all are really dangerous and poisonus and me also must eager to look up for any breed which is non poisonus

 

If you're looking at a question like that then its important to remember the intent of the DWA which is to protect the public- not the keeper.

Thats why a lot of species that are recognised as being to deadly to humans aren't on there, like aquatic species as they will likely die very quickly if they managae to escape or like the komodo dragon - just to damn hard to get hold of.

Mis-identification is a big problem. Many years back R.subminiatus (a rear fanged venomous snake covered by the act) was being sold by a pet shop as a red necked rat snake to anyone and everyone. If you want more details on that contact ian14 on here.

 

Thats why a lot of species that are recognised as being to deadly to humans aren't on there, like aquatic species as they will likely die very quickly if they managae to escape or like the komodo dragon - just to damn hard to get hold of.

I suppose but I don't see why Sicarius sp. wouldn't be added to it since Loxosceles sp. are on there already? I know folks keeping Sicarius seems more of a recent trend, but it's not as if Loxosceles are commonly kept. I suppose Loxosceles are more likely to be accidentally imported but it's now like Recluse or Widow spiders are aggressive in nature, if you stand on it or accidentally grab ut, it may bite you, that's about it. But that's also true with Sicarius and it would appear from lab tests, albeit on rabbits, that their bite is very severe. It wouldn't be much of a change to alter it so rather then saying Sicariidae; genus Loxosceles. It just said, all species in family Sicariidae, just as they've done with the scorpions.

 

off topic i was under the impression komodo's are not dwa i imagine getting hold of one legally and having the area to house one would be rediculous though

 

anyway got a response, no changes to the schedule planned in the foreseeable future. If that changes they would have a public consultation and consider any suggestions, to which they would refer to an expert panel. Tbh I'm surprised it would be a public consultation really.