''Centruroides'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

scorpion Scorpions are predatory arachnids of the order Scorpiones. They have eight legs, and are easily recognized by a pair of grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back and always end ...

s of the family

Buthidae The Buthidae are the largest family of scorpions, containing about 100 genera and 1339 species as of 2022. A few very large genera (''Ananteris'', ''Centruroides'', '' Compsobuthus'', or '' Tityus'') are known, but a high number of species-poor o ...

. Several

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

n species are known by the common

vernacular name A vernacular or vernacular language is in contrast with a "standard language". It refers to the language or dialect that is spoken by people that are inhabiting a particular country or region. The vernacular is typically the native language, n ...

bark scorpion. Numerous

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

are extensively found throughout the southern

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

Central America Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...

, the

Antilles The Antilles (; gcf, label=Antillean Creole, Antiy; es, Antillas; french: Antilles; nl, Antillen; ht, Antiy; pap, Antias; Jamaican Patois: ''Antiliiz'') is an archipelago bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the south and west, the Gulf of Mex ...

and northern

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

. Some are known for their interesting patterning or large size (among Buthidae); most if not all

fluoresce Fluorescence is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation. It is a form of luminescence. In most cases, the emitted light has a longer wavelength, and therefore a lower photon energy, tha ...

strongly under

ultraviolet Ultraviolet (UV) is a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelength from 10 nanometer, nm (with a corresponding frequency around 30 Hertz, PHz) to 400 nm (750 Hertz, THz), shorter than that of visible light, but longer than ...

illumination, except after

moulting In biology, moulting (British English), or molting (American English), also known as sloughing, shedding, or in many invertebrates, ecdysis, is the manner in which an animal routinely casts off a part of its body (often, but not always, an outer ...

. They contain several highly venomous species, and fatalities are known to occur. The venom of the Mexican scorpion ''Centruroides limpidus limpidus'' contains the

neurotoxin Neurotoxins are toxins that are destructive to nerve tissue (causing neurotoxicity). Neurotoxins are an extensive class of exogenous chemical neurological insultsSpencer 2000 that can adversely affect function in both developing and mature ner ...

Cll1 Toxin Cll1 is a toxin from the venom of the Mexican scorpion ''Centruroides limpidus limpidus'', which changes the activation threshold of sodium channels by binding to neurotoxin binding site 4, resulting in increased excitability. Etymology ...

and Cll2.

Taxonomy

The number of species accepted as valid may vary, depending on the authority. The genus is highly speciose, containing at least 100 species: * ''

Centruroides alayoni ''Centruroides alayoni'' is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. Description Centruroides alayoni is a moderate-sized scorpion, with a typical length of . Its sandy dull brown colour matches the surrounding environment, giving it camo ...

'' Armas, 1999 * ''

Centruroides altagraciae ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Teruel, de Armas & Kovarik, 2015 * ''

Centruroides anchorellus ''Centruroides anchorellus'' is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae The Buthidae are the largest family of scorpions, containing about 100 genera and 1339 species as of 2022. A few very large genera (''Ananteris'', '' Centruroides'', ...

'' Armas, 1976 * ''

Centruroides arctimanus ''Centruroides arctimanus'' is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae The Buthidae are the largest family of scorpions, containing about 100 genera and 1339 species as of 2022. A few very large genera (''Ananteris'', '' Centruroides'', ' ...

'' Armas, 1976 * ''

Centruroides baergi ''Centruroides baergi'' is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. They are commonly found in highlands and are almost exclusively found in the states of Oaxaca and southern Puebla, Mexico. ''C. baergi'' is the most abundant scorpion of th ...

'' Hoffmann, 1932 * ''

Centruroides balsasensis ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Ponce & Francke, 2004 * ''

Centruroides bani ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Armas & Marcano Fondeur, 1987 * ''

Centruroides baracoae ''Centruroides baracoae'' is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae The Buthidae are the largest family of scorpions, containing about 100 genera and 1339 species as of 2022. A few very large genera (''Ananteris'', '' Centruroides'', '' ...

'' Armas, 1976 * ''

Centruroides barbudensis ''Centruroides barbudensis'' is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. It possesses excitatory neurotoxins that act on sodium and potassium channels. Toxic catecholamine-release can cause adrenergic cardiac effects. Distribution This s ...

'' (Pocock, 1898) * ''

Centruroides berstoni ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Goodman, Prendini, Francke & Esposito, 2021 * '' Centruroides bertholdii'' (Thorell, 1876) * '' Centruroides bicolor'' (Pocock, 1898) * ''

Centruroides bonito ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Quijano-Ravell, Teruel & Ponce-Saavedra, 2016 * '' Centruroides caral'' Armas & Trujillo, 2013 * '' Centruroides caribbeanus'' Teruel & Myers, 2017 * '' Centruroides chamela'' Ponce-Saavedra & Francke, 2011 * '' Centruroides chamulaensis'' Hoffmann, 1932 * '' Centruroides catemacoensis'' Goodman, Prendini, Francke & Esposito, 2021 * '' Centruroides chanae'' Goodman, Prendini, Francke & Esposito, 2021 * ''

Centruroides chiapanensis ''Centruroides chiapanensis'' is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. It is native to Mexico. References

Buthidae Scorpions described in 1932 Endemic scorpions of Mexico Centruroides {{Scorpion-stub ...

'' Hoffmann, 1932 * '' Centruroides concordia'' Armas & Teruel, 2021 * '' Centruroides cuauhmapan'' Goodman, Prendini, Francke & Esposito, 2021 * '' Centruroides edwardsii'' (Gervais, 1843) * ''

Centruroides elegans ''Centruroides elegans'' is a scorpion species in the genus ''Centruroides ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous speci ...

'' (Thorell, 1876) * ''

Centruroides exilicauda ''Centruroides exilicauda'', the Baja California bark scorpion, is a species of bark scorpion found in Baja California. It is closely related to the Arizona bark scorpion ('' Centruroides sculpturatus''), but is not considered dangerous. Previou ...

'' (Wood, 1863) * ''

Centruroides exilimanus ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Teruel & Stockwell, 2002 * '' Centruroides exsul'' (Meise, 1933) * '' Centruroides fallassisimus'' Armas & Trujillo, 2010 * '' Centruroides farri'' Armas, 1976 * '' Centruroides flavopictus'' (Pocock, 1898) * '' Centruroides franckei'' Santibanez-Lopez & Contreras-Felix, 2013 * '' Centruroides fulvipes'' (Pocock, 1898) * ''

Centruroides galano ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Teruel, 2001 * '' Centruroides gracilis'' (Latreille, 1804) * ''

Centruroides granosus ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' (Thorell, 1876) * '' Centruroides griseus'' (C. L. Koch, 1844) * ''

Centruroides guanensis ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Franganillo, 1930 * '' Centruroides hamadryas'' Goodman, Prendini, Francke & Esposito, 2021 * '' Centruroides hentzi'' (Banks, 1900) * '' Centruroides hirsuticauda'' Teruel, 2011 * '' Centruroides hirsutipalpus'' Ponce-Saavedra & Francke, 2009 * '' Centruroides hoffmanni'' Armas, 1996 * ''

Centruroides huichol ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Teruel, Ponce-Saavedra & Quijano-Ravell, 2015 * ''

Centruroides infamatus ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' (C. L. Koch, 1844) * ''

Centruroides insulanus ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' (Thorell, 1876) * '' Centruroides ixil'' Trujillo & Armas, 2016 * '' Centruroides jaragua'' Armas, 1999 * ''

Centruroides jorgeorum ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Santiago-Blay, 2009 * '' Centruroides koesteri'' Kraepelin, 1912 * ''

Centruroides lauriadnae ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Ponce-Saavedra & Francke, 2019 * '' Centruroides limbatus'' (Pocock, 1898) * '' Centruroides limpidus'' (Karsch, 1879) * '' Centruroides luceorum'' Armas, 1999 * '' Centruroides lucidus'' Teruel, Armas & Kovarik, 2015 * '' Centruroides marcanoi'' Armas, 1981 * ''

Centruroides margaritatus ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' (Gervais, 1841) * ''

Centruroides mascota ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Ponce-Saavedra & Francke, 2011 * '' Centruroides meisei'' Hoffmann, 1939 * ''

Centruroides melanodactylus ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Teruel, 2001 * '' Centruroides navarroi'' Teruel, 2001 * '' Centruroides nigrescens'' (Pocock, 1898) * '' Centruroides nigrimanus'' (Pocock, 1898) * ''

Centruroides nigropunctatus ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Teruel, 2006 * '' Centruroides nigrovariatus'' (Pocock, 1898) * '' Centruroides nitidus'' (Thorell, 1876) * ''

Centruroides noxius ''Centruroides noxius'' is a species of scorpion native to Mexico. Description and behavior This species grows from 3.5 to 5 cm in length, its body is dark in color, usually black or brown, and its legs and pedipalps are generally light, ...

'' Hoffmann, 1932 * '' Centruroides ochraceus'' (Pocock, 1898) * ''

Centruroides orizaba ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Armas & Martin-Frias, 2003 * '' Centruroides ornatus'' Pocock, 1902 * '' Centruroides pallidiceps'' Pocock, 1902 * '' Centruroides panamensis'' Arias & Esposito, 2014 * '' Centruroides platnicki'' Armas, 1981 * ''

Centruroides pococki ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Sissom & Francke, 1983 * '' Centruroides polito'' Teruel, 2007 * '' Centruroides poncei'' Teruel, Kovarik, Baldazo-Monsivais & Hoferek, 2015 * ''

Centruroides possanii ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Gonzalez-Santillan, Galan-Sanchez & Valdez-Velazquez, 2019 * '' Centruroides rileyi'' Sissom, 1995 * '' Centruroides robertoi'' Armas, 1976 * '' Centruroides rodolfoi'' Santibanez-Lopez & Contreras-Felix, 2013 * '' Centruroides romeroi'' Quijano-Ravell, De Armas, Francke & Ponce-Saavedra, 2019 * '' Centruroides ruana'' Quijano-Ravell & Ponce-Saavedra, 2016 * '' Centruroides sanandres'' Armas, Sarmiento & Florez, 2012 * '' Centruroides sasae'' Santiago-Blay, 2009 * '' Centruroides schmidti'' Sissom, 1995 * '' Centruroides sculpturatus'' Ewing, 1928 * '' Centruroides serrano'' Santibanez-Lopez & Ponce-Saavedra, 2009 * '' Centruroides simplex'' (Thorell, 1876) * '' Centruroides sissomi'' Armas, 1996 * ''

Centruroides spectatus ''Centruroides'' is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Centr ...

'' Teruel, 2006 * '' Centruroides stockwelli'' Teruel, 2001 * '' Centruroides suffusus'' (Pocock, 1902) * '' Centruroides tapachulaensis'' Hoffmann, 1932 * '' Centruroides tecomanus'' Hoffmann, 1932 * '' Centruroides tenuis'' Thorell, 1876 * '' Centruroides testaceus'' (DeGeer, 1778) * '' Centruroides thorellii'' (Kraepelin, 1891) * '' Centruroides tuxtla'' Armas, 1999 * '' Centruroides underwoodi'' Armas, 1976 * '' Centruroides villegasi'' Baldazo-Monsivaiz, Ponce-Saavedra & Flores-Moreno, 2013 * '' Centruroides vittatus'' (Say, 1821) * '' Centruroides yucatanensis'' Goodman, Prendini, Francke & Esposito, 2021

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2702846 Scorpions of South America