Scorpions (Order Scorpionida)
What do scorpions look like?
An example of a scorpion. Photo: © D Nelson.
Scorpion. Illustration: A Howells © Australian Museum
- Size:
- 9 mm - 210 mm in length.
- Body:
- No constriction between cephalothorax (front portion containing head) and the abdomen.
- Abdomen is segmented, cigar-shaped to tear-drop-like, with narrow tail.
- Body appears hard.
- Pectines (a sensory organ) present on underside of body behind legs.
- Antennae:
- Absent.
- Eyes:
- Up to 12 simple eyes, two found centrally the remainder on the front margins of cephalothorax.
- Mouthparts:
- For mushing and chopping up prey and slurping liquids.
- Wings:
- Absent.
- Limbs:
- Eight legs.
- Pedipalps (appendages between first legs and mouthparts) are large with pincers (chela) at their ends.
- Abdomen tip:
- Long tail with sting at tip.
Where scorpions found?
- On land in many habitats including deserts.
- Under rocks, logs and bark.
- In burrows, especially desert dwelling scorpions.
What do scorpions do?
- They are commonly solitary, few found in groups.
- When disturbed they run under cover, or raise pincers and mobilise tail.
- They are venomous. The venom is delivered via their tail and is used to paralyse or kill prey. Few are harmful to humans.
- All scorpions are predators feeding mostly on other invertebrates but have been known to snare small vertebrates such as lizards. They use their pincers to clasp prey, then repeatedly sting the held victim, once paralysed the victim is liquefied with digestive juices.
- They move with their pincers stretched out in front and the tail outstretched behind.
- They are active at night or if active during the day generally in dark places; detectable at night with ultraviolet light.
What looks similar?
- Pseudoscorpions are easily distinguished from scorpions as they are smaller than 10 mm in length and lack a tail.
