Pronunciation
BYOO-thih-dee; BYOO-thid (buthid) scorpions
Identification
The family Buthidae is easily recognized by the almost triangular sternum. The sternum is located on the underside just before the pectines (combs).
Range
Buthid scorpions are found on all continents, except Antarctica, usually in warm climates. The only genus in America is Centruroides.
Remarks
The family Buthidae is the largest scorpion family with over 50 genera and over 600 species worldwide.
Of the known 25 (or so) species of dangerous scorpions, only one species is NOT in the family Buthidae (it's Hemiscorpius lepturus, in the family Hemiscorpiidae, and it has a highly virulent haemotoxin).
Dangerous buthids are in the genera Centruroides (North America and Mexico), Tityus (South America), and Androctonus, Parabuthus, Leiurus, Mesobuthus, and Hottentotta in the Old World.
Oddly, with all the deadly animals in Australia, none of the buthids there are known to be dangerous.
