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Hottentotta is a genus of of the family Buthidae. It is distributed widely across Africa, except for most of the Sahara desert. Species in the genus also occur in the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, southeastern Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Cape Verde Islands, and Sri Lanka (introduced).
Some authors subdivided the genus into three subgenus, Hottentotta (Hottentotta), Hottentotta (Balfourianus) Max Vachon, 1979, and Hottentotta (Deccanobuthus) Lourenço, 2000. The latest taxonomic reviews of this genus by F. Kovařík reject this subdivision and recognizes a single, undivided genus Hottentotta. The differences separating the closely related genus Mesobuthus from Hottentotta are very subtle, and species have been often been misassigned among the two genera.
They show a typical Buthidae habitus with gracile pedipalp chelae and a moderately thickened metasoma. The vesicle is bulbous and proportionally large in some species. The cephalothorax and mesosoma shows distinct granulation in most species, some are strongly hirsute. The tergites of the mesosoma bear three distinct, longitudinal carinae (ridges).
Hottentotta tamulus, the Indian red scorpion, has evidently caused human fatalities by cardiovascular and pulmonary manifestations of intoxication and is considered the most lethal scorpion species in the world.
Kleber et al. (1999) listed envenomation by at least four other species as to cause clinically significant .
This listing is not comprehensive due to lack of data and all species of Hottentotta are potentially highly venomous to humans.
Note that the LD50 value might differ considerably between populations of the same species.
Diversity
The content of this genus may vary, depending on the authority. At least 40-41 species are known:
Disputed species
General characteristics
Members of Hottentotta are generally moderately sized scorpions, with a total length of ; the smallest species are long, while the largest species reach . They belong to the most colorful species of scorpions. The base color ranges from bright yellow to black, with most species colored in brown or reddish tones. Many species are ornamented by color spots or bands especially on the mesosoma. Coloration may be considerable variable between individuals of the same species or among regional populations.
Toxicity
As in other Buthidae the venom in at least some species of Hottentotta is relatively potent and can be of medical importance to humans.
+ Relative toxicity and symptoms caused by envenomation from Hottentotta species H. alticola not available Severe pain, questionably cholinergic symptoms Afghanistan, Pakistan H. franzwerneri not available Severe pain, reportedly affection of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, questionably cholinergic symptoms Algeria, Morocco H. judaicus 7.94 Severe pain, reportedly affection of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, questionably cholinergic symptoms Israel, Lebanon, Syria, southeastern Turkey H. minax not available Severe pain, questionably cholinergic symptoms Cameroon, Chad, southern Libya, southern Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, questionably Tanzania and Uganda H. saulcyi 1.01 not available Eastern Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, questionably Syria H. tamulus not available Severe pain, cardiovascular symptoms (including acute myocarditis, cardiac dysrhythmia, ischemia-like changes and conduction blockade), pulmonary oedema Pakistan, India, and southeastern Nepal
Habitat
Most species live in semi-arid to humid, steppe, savannah and forested environments. Hyperarid deserts are avoided. Some reach considerable topographic altitudes as e.g. in the Atlas Mountains, the Zagros Mountains or at the Hindukush.
In captivity
Due to their relatively colorful appearance Hottentotta species are often kept and bred in captivity. Popular species are H. hottentotta and H. trilineatus. As with other highly venomous Buthidae keeping these species in captivity is only recommendable to experienced people.
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