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Scorpion

Scorpiones

Last updated: February 24, 2021
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
  1. Animals Home
  2. All Animals
  3. Invertebrates
  4. Scorpion

There are around 2,000 known species!

Continue Reading after the facts...


Scorpion Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Arachnida
Order
Scorpiones
Family
Scorpionoidea
Scientific Name
Scorpiones

Scorpion Conservation Status

  • Least Concern

Scorpion Locations

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Central-America
  • Eurasia
  • Europe
  • North-America
  • Oceania
  • South-America
Scorpion Locations

Scorpion Facts

Main Prey
Insects, Spiders, Small rodents
Habitat
Dry desert, grassland, savanna and tropical jungles
Predators
Rodents, Birds, Lizards
Diet
Carnivore
Average Litter Size
6
Lifestyle
  • Solitary
Favorite Food
Insects
Type
Arachnida
Slogan
There are around 2,000 known species!

Scorpion Physical Characteristics

Colour
  • Brown
  • Yellow
  • Red
  • Black
  • White
Skin Type
Shell
Top Speed
12 mph
Lifespan
4-25 years
Weight
10-100g (0.4-3.5oz)

Scorpion Images

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The scorpion is an eight-legged carnivorous anthropod, that are found worldwide. There are around 2,000 different species of known scorpion found in most countries around the world today.

The scorpion is mainly found in the southern hemisphere in deserts and jungle habitats alike. The most northern place the scorpion can be found in the wild is the Isle of Sheppey in the United Kingdom, which is a small island in the North of Kent.

The general age range for most species of scorpion is between 6 months and 25 years, although the actual lifespan of most species of scorpion is unknown as they are very elusive animals in the wild and are often hard to spot due to their generally small size.

Scorpions are arachnids (not insects) and the scorpion is most closely related to spiders and ticks. Scorpions are sometimes referred to as ancient animals as scorpions have been on Earth for over 400 million years, meaning that scorpions already existed on Earth when the dinosaurs arrived.

Scorpions are generally nocturnal animals meaning that they spend the day under rocks and in crevices and then come out to hunt in the safety of darkness. Scorpions are carnivorous animals and paralyze their prey using the venomous sting on the end of their tail so that the scorpion can eat it without trouble. Scorpions also have two large claws or pincers which are located at the front of the body of the scorpion. The claws of the scorpion allow the scorpion to effectively hold onto prey in order to both sting it and then eat it.

Female scorpions give birth to live young in litters that can range from 4 baby scorpions to 8 or 9 baby scorpions. The baby scorpion climbs onto the back of the mother scorpion almost immediately after birth. The mother scorpion will look after her baby scorpions until they are able to hunt for themselves.

For the majority of the time, when a human is stung by a scorpion, the symptoms are often similar to those of a bee sting and are often just swollen and painful. However, around 50 scorpion species are thought to carry enough venom that could cause more serious harm to humans and around half of those 50 scorpion species are believed to be capable of causing fatal results when having stung a human being.

View all 84 animals that start with S


Scorpion FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Are Scorpions herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores?

Scorpions are Carnivores, meaning they eat other animals.

What Kingdom do Scorpions belong to?

Scorpions belong to the Kingdom Animalia.

What class do Scorpions belong to?

Scorpions belong to the class Arachnida.

What phylum to Scorpions belong to?

Scorpions belong to the phylum Arthropoda.

What family do Scorpions belong to?

Scorpions belong to the family Scorpionoidea.

What order do Scorpions belong to?

Scorpions belong to the order Scorpiones.

What type of covering do Scorpions have?

Scorpions are covered in Shells.

In what type of habitat do Scorpions live?

Scorpions live in dry desert, grassland, savannas, and tropical jungles.

What is the main prey for Scorpions?

Scorpions prey on insects, spiders, and small rodents.

What are some predators of Scorpions?

Predators of Scorpions include rodents, birds, and lizards.

How many babies do Scorpions have?

The average number of babies a Scorpion has is 6.

What is an interesting fact about Scorpions?

There are around 2,000 known species of Scorpion!

What is the scientific name for the Scorpion?

The scientific name for the Scorpion is Scorpiones.

What is the lifespan of a Scorpion?

Scorpions can live for 4 to 25 years.

How fast is a Scorpion?

A Scorpion can travel at speeds of up to 12 miles per hour.

Sources
  1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife
  2. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals
  3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia
  4. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species
  5. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals
  6. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals

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