Deathstalker Leiurus quinquestriatus
Description:
Medium to large-sized scorpion with a total length between 80–110 mm. Its general coloration is yellow to yellowish orange. The tail is long and thin, with a yellow color, except for segment V, which is brown to black and more elongated compared to other segments. The chelae (pincers) are elongate and gracile, with the base of closed fingers approximating in width to the manus.
Habitat:
This scorpion occupies a wide variety of habitats, ranging from deserts and semi-deserts to savannas, including rocky hills and mountains.
Distribution:
The Deathstalker is common and widespread in North Africa and the Middle East, with its presence recorded in Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, Niger, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sinai, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Distribution in Sudan:
It is one of the most common scorpion species in Sudan, recorded in regions such as Darfur, Kordfan, River Nile, Red Sea, Khartoum, White Nile, Gadarif, Kassala, Gazira, and the Northern States.
Venom:
The venom of Leiurus quinquestriatus is mainly neurotoxic and is known to be one of the most toxic venoms among scorpions. Fatalities can occur due to cardiovascular and respiratory failure. This species is considered one of the most dangerous scorpions in Sudan, and it appears to be responsible for most deaths related to scorpion stings, particularly in children, while the majority of envenomations in adults produce only localized effects.
