''Centruroides baergi'' is a species of

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 en ...

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'', '' Compsobuthus'', or '' Tityus'') are known, but a high number of species-poor ...

. They are commonly found in highlands and are almost exclusively found in the states of

Oaxaca Oaxaca ( , also , , from nci, Huāxyacac ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca), is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of Mexico. It is ...

and southern Puebla,

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 ...

. ''C. baergi'' is the most abundant scorpion of the genus in the state of Oaxaca, making up a third of ''Centruroides'' reported between 2008 and 2014.

Venom

The three main toxins that make up the venom of ''C. baergi are beta toxins.'' These toxins modify the activation threshold of

sodium channels Sodium channels are integral membrane proteins that form ion channels, conducting sodium ions (Na+) through a cell's membrane. They belong to the superfamily of cation channels and can be classified according to the trigger that opens the chann ...

, making the channels more likely to open when normally they would not. Since sodium channels are widely found in the

peripheral nervous system The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is one of two components that make up the nervous system of bilateral animals, with the other part being the central nervous system (CNS). The PNS consists of nerves and ganglia, which lie outside the brain ...

, their opening can lead to severe

autonomic dysfunction Dysautonomia or autonomic dysfunction is a condition in which the autonomic nervous system (ANS) does not work properly. This may affect the functioning of the heart, bladder, intestines, sweat glands, pupils, and blood vessels. Dysautonomia has ...

. The two most harmful of these toxins can not be neutralized by the currently available antibodies, likely due to the venom not being deemed medically important. Some of the symptoms of a sting include intense pain, salivation, vomiting, breathing difficulties, tightness in the chest, muscle stiffness, tingling and sweating.

References

baergi Scorpions described in 1932 {{Scorpion-stub