See Why Scorpions Have Survived on Earth Since Before Trees Even Existed

Scorpions before trees? Could it be? Scorpions have a fascinating history that points to their unbelievable adaptability in the face of shifting conditions. Watch the video at the bottom of the page to learn more about why scorpions have survived on Earth for so long!

How Long Have Scorpions Been Around?

Scorpions have been around for a startling 450 million years! They are one of the first types of animals that figured out how to dwell on land. How do researchers know just how many millions of years they’ve been around? Because of a fossil they discovered of a marine scorpion! This fossil helped them make a determination about how long scorpions have been around. Additionally, they realized this particular scorpion grew over three feet long!

Scorpion Behavior

Scorpions are impressively adaptable creatures. Their evolutionary history alone tells you this. Given that they have been around for hundreds of millions of years, they have had the time to adapt to shifting environmental conditions while they developed an array of survival strategies. Not only are they efficient when hunting to ensure their sustenance, but they also have a low metabolic rate. This ensures that they can endure long periods without needing food, which is optimal when food sources are scarce. These are nocturnal creatures that burrow, which keeps them safe from the elements when they’re severe.

Learn Why Scorpions Have Survived on Earth So Long

The video below is on the Be Smart channel on YouTube. The host addresses scorpions and how they may just be misunderstood. He flies out to California to meet with a scorpion biologist. He poses the question that instead of being scared to death of them, they may actually be able to help save the lives of humans. The biologist shares that scorpion stings are extremely painful. The host struggles to set aside his preconceived notions as he continues the discussion with her.

He goes on to say that scorpions have been wreaking havoc on Earth since prehistoric times. When there weren’t any animals on land (or even trees), scorpions turned to the water to obtain their sustenance. The scorpion’s ancestor is a eurypterid, which is also known as a sea scorpion. These weren’t cute and tiny with beautiful colors. They were quite large, reaching up to five meters long! Even as the biologist recounts this fact, her facial expression points to both a sense of fascination and awe.

Watch the Video Below to Learn More!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Danita Delimont/Shutterstock.com