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KINGDOM : Animalia
PHYLUM : Arthropoda
SUBPHYLUM : Chelicerata
CLASS : Arachnida
ORDER : Scorpiones
FAMILY : Buthidae
GENUS : Mesobuthus
SPECIES : M. Martensii
SYSTEMATICS OF THE THELYPHONIDA ![]() |
M. martensii, especially its tail, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many centuries to treat various neuronal problems, such as chronic pain, paralysis, apoplexy and epilepsy. Over the past few decades, dozens of novel proteins in this scorpion's venom have been identified, cloned and investigated for clinical applications. Scorpion envenomation is a significant threat to public health in many regions around the world, with the number of scorpion stings estimated to be 1.2 million annually, resulting in more than 3,200 deaths. Scorpions are an indispensable part of the ecological food chain and they help to maintain a balance among various populations in an ecosystem. They primarily feed on insects, and also arachnids, myriapods, gastropods and small vertebrates. Scorpions are typically nocturnal animals, hiding in the day and foraging at night.
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