With almost two thousand known species found on six of the seven continents, scorpions have been able to adapt to some of the harshest environments on earth.
The word scorpion is thought to have originated in Middle English between 1175 and 1225 AD from Old French scorpion, or from Italian scorpione, both derived from the Latin word Scorpius.
The average adult scorpion is about 3 inches (8cm) inches in length. The longest scorpion is the African scorpion, which can be 9 inches (23 cm) long.
Discovered in 2014, the Microtityus minimus is indigenous to the Dominican Republic, where it occupies southern foothills. At 0.4 inches (10mm) from end to end is the smallest known scorpion.
Scorpions have six to twelve eyes – a pair at the center of the carapace and two to five smaller eyes on each side.
Despite having up to 12 eyes, scorpions have poor vision and rely on smell to detect their prey.
Scorpions have special organs on the underside of the body called pectines, which pick up ground textures and scents.
They appear to have excellent low light sensitivity, which helps them to both avoid harsh sunlight and to navigate by starlight or moonlight.
They have eight legs and a pair of grasping pedipalps (like claws).
Scorpions have an organ called the “hepatopancreas” which is extremely efficient and fulfills the functions equivalent to the liver and pancreas found in humans.
Scorpions breathe through four pairs of book lungs on the underside of the abdomen.
A scorpion can hold its breath for up to six days.
Scorpions have the ability to consume large quantities of food compared to their body size.
They feast on anything from insects to mice, but can survive for up to a year without food or water.
The word scorpion is thought to have originated in Middle English between 1175 and 1225 AD from Old French scorpion, or from Italian scorpione, both derived from the Latin word Scorpius.
ANATOMY
The average adult scorpion is about 3 inches (8cm) inches in length. The longest scorpion is the African scorpion, which can be 9 inches (23 cm) long.
Discovered in 2014, the Microtityus minimus is indigenous to the Dominican Republic, where it occupies southern foothills. At 0.4 inches (10mm) from end to end is the smallest known scorpion.
Scorpions have six to twelve eyes – a pair at the center of the carapace and two to five smaller eyes on each side.
Despite having up to 12 eyes, scorpions have poor vision and rely on smell to detect their prey.
Scorpions have special organs on the underside of the body called pectines, which pick up ground textures and scents.
They appear to have excellent low light sensitivity, which helps them to both avoid harsh sunlight and to navigate by starlight or moonlight.
They have eight legs and a pair of grasping pedipalps (like claws).
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| Hottentotta tamulus, The Indian red scorpion By Shantanu Kuveskar |
Scorpions have an organ called the “hepatopancreas” which is extremely efficient and fulfills the functions equivalent to the liver and pancreas found in humans.
Scorpions breathe through four pairs of book lungs on the underside of the abdomen.
A scorpion can hold its breath for up to six days.
BEHAVIOR
Scorpions have the ability to consume large quantities of food compared to their body size.
They feast on anything from insects to mice, but can survive for up to a year without food or water.
All known scorpion species possess venom, which they use to turn the insides of their prey into liquid as they are unable to eat solids.
Book scorpions, also known as pseudoscorpions, live in old books and feed off of dust mites, booklice, and starch-based book glue.
If one places a tiny amount of liquor on a scorpion, it will instantly go mad and sting itself to death.
Book scorpions, also known as pseudoscorpions, live in old books and feed off of dust mites, booklice, and starch-based book glue.
If one places a tiny amount of liquor on a scorpion, it will instantly go mad and sting itself to death.
It is not recommended to flush a scorpion down a toilet, as scorpions can survive being under the water hence they may come back out that same toilet or crawl up the drains and into your home.
Scorpions can survive in the desert by slowing down their metabolism. This allows them to survive on as little as one insect per year. This ability also allows them to shelter from the sun and heat for extended periods of time, using only little amounts of oxygen.
Scorpions glow under blacklight. Scientists are still unsure why the arachnids give off a bright green glow when they are under UV light.
There are almost 2000 species of scorpion, and around 40 are poisonous enough to kill a human. However most scorpion stings are painful but are harmless to humans.
For stings from species found in North America, no treatment is normally needed for healthy adults, although medical care should be sought for children and for the elderly. More harmful stings from species found in South America, Africa, and western Asia may require medical attention.
On the set of the 2008 movie Australia, the actress Nicole Kidman noticed a scorpion crawling up her co-star Hugh Jackman's leg. Kidman calmly scooped the offending beast into a hat and threw it into the woods.
Around 1,000 people die from scorpion stings every year in Mexico.
Scorpion venom is the most expensive liquid on earth at $38,858,507.46 per gallon.
Scorpion wine is made in Vietnam. The venom is inactivated by the alcohol.
Smoking scorpions to get high is a growing problem in parts of Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. The high can last from ten hours to three days. The high is said to be so powerful that it outstrips heroin. But the person spends the first six hours in pain while their body adjusts to the toxins, which can possibly lead to death.
Sources Daily Mail, Australian Museum
Scorpions can survive in the desert by slowing down their metabolism. This allows them to survive on as little as one insect per year. This ability also allows them to shelter from the sun and heat for extended periods of time, using only little amounts of oxygen.
Scorpions glow under blacklight. Scientists are still unsure why the arachnids give off a bright green glow when they are under UV light.
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| This black scorpion appears light-blue under a black light. Jonbeebe Wikipedia |
RELATIONSHIP WITH HUMANS
There are almost 2000 species of scorpion, and around 40 are poisonous enough to kill a human. However most scorpion stings are painful but are harmless to humans.
For stings from species found in North America, no treatment is normally needed for healthy adults, although medical care should be sought for children and for the elderly. More harmful stings from species found in South America, Africa, and western Asia may require medical attention.
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| The deathstalker has powerful venom. By by Ester Inbar, Wikipedia |
On the set of the 2008 movie Australia, the actress Nicole Kidman noticed a scorpion crawling up her co-star Hugh Jackman's leg. Kidman calmly scooped the offending beast into a hat and threw it into the woods.
Around 1,000 people die from scorpion stings every year in Mexico.
Scorpion venom is the most expensive liquid on earth at $38,858,507.46 per gallon.
Scorpion wine is made in Vietnam. The venom is inactivated by the alcohol.
Smoking scorpions to get high is a growing problem in parts of Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. The high can last from ten hours to three days. The high is said to be so powerful that it outstrips heroin. But the person spends the first six hours in pain while their body adjusts to the toxins, which can possibly lead to death.
Sources Daily Mail, Australian Museum
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