Buthus Occitanus

Buthus occitanus, known as the common yellow scorpion, is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. It measures 60 to 80 millimeters long and is yellow or yellow brown in color. Its venom, which includes a toxin called BotIT6, varies markedly in potency across its range: stings in European populations cause pain with only mild toxic effects, while the North African subspecies Buthus occitanus tunetanus can inflict fatal stings. It lives in dry, hot environments with little plant cover, sheltering under stones during the day, and also occurs in Mediterranean forests at elevations above 1,000 meters. Its range covers the Middle East, North Africa, and southern Europe, including Portugal, Spain, and France, wherever a Mediterranean climate is found.