Indiana Jones was right all along: Research shows the smaller the
scorpion, the deadlier

Date:
April 21, 2022
Source:
National University of Ireland Galway
Summary:
Researchers have shown that smaller species of scorpions, with
smaller pincers, have more potent venoms compared to larger species
with robust claws. The scientists tested the theory from Indiana
Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which warned of the
dangers of small scorpions, and that 'when it comes to scorpions,
the bigger the better'.

While this may have simply been a throwaway movie line from the
adventurous archaeologist Indiana Jones, the research shows there is
truth to it. The team of scientists at NUI Galway's Ryan Institute
put the quip to the test by analysing 36 species of scorpions to
show that larger scorpions have less potent venoms and really are
better in terms of avoiding a nasty sting.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Researchers in NUI Galway have shown, for the first time, that smaller
species of scorpions, with smaller pincers, have more potent venoms
compared to larger species with robust claws.


==========================================================================
The scientists tested the theory fromIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which warned of the dangers of small scorpions, and that
"when it comes to scorpions, the bigger the better." While this may have simply been a throwaway movie line from the adventurous archaeologist
Indiana Jones, the research shows there is truth to it.

The team of scientists at NUI Galway's Ryan Institute put the quip to the
test by analysing 36 species of scorpions to show that larger scorpions
have less potent venoms and really are better in terms of avoiding a
nasty sting.

The results of the research have published in the international journal
Toxins.

It shows the smallest scorpions in their analysis, like the Brazilian
yellow scorpion, where over 100 times more potent than the largest
species they studied, such as the rock scorpion.



==========================================================================
The potency pattern was not just about body size, but also pincer size,
with venoms found in species with the smallest pinchers, including the
South African thick-tail scorpion, which is more than 10 times more
potent compared to species with the largest and most robust pinchers,
such as the Israeli gold scorpion.

Dr Kevin Healy, Lecturer of Zoology at NUI Galway and senior author
of the study, said: "Outside of entertaining movie trivia there are
good evolutionary reason to expect the results and important medical implications for such patterns." The researchers highlighted that
while scorpions use both their venomous sting and their pinchers to
capture prey and for defence there is an evolutionary trade-off between
these weapons. Energy used to make bigger pincers means less energy is available for its chemical arsenal. This results in larger scorpions
which can use their physical size are less reliant on venoms, while
smaller species have evolved more potent venoms.

Dr Healy added: "When we look at the most potent, and dangerous,
scorpion venoms we find they tend to be associated with species such as
the deathstalker which are relatively small. In contrast, the biggest
species such as rock scorpions have venoms that are likely to only cause
slight pain." Alannah Forde, an NUI Galway graduate student and lead
author of the study, said: "Not only did we find that bigger is better
-- when it comes to people being stung -- we also found that bigger
pincers are better when it comes to assessing the danger level of a
scorpion. While species such as large-clawed scorpion might be small to
medium in size, they mainly rely on their large pincers instead of their relatively weak venom." Scorpion stings are a global health problem with
more than 1 million cases and thousands of deaths every year. Identifying
the species involved with a sting is vital for treatment, hence general
rules such as "bigger is better" are often used to help with treatment.

The team aim to test these evolutionary rules to what makes some species
more potent to help develop better medical approaches to scorpion stings.

Dr Michel Dugon, Head of the Venom System Lab at NUI Galway and a senior
author of the study, said: "As scientists, our job is also to put popular wisdom to the test. Most victims hospitalised with severe symptoms
following scorpion stings are children below the age of 15. Identifying
the species responsible is essential to administer the correct treatment,
and a simple rule such as 'bigger is better' is a first small step toward saving lives."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
National_University_of_Ireland_Galway. Note: Content may be edited for
style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Alannah Forde, Adam Jacobsen, Michel M. Dugon, Kevin Healy. Scorpion
Species with Smaller Body Sizes and Narrower Chelae Have the Highest
Venom Potency. Toxins, 2022; 14 (3): 219 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14030219 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220421141627.htm

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