Scorpion

Scorpion (Skor-pee-on)

Scorpion is a predatory arachnid of the order Scorpiones. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping pedipalps and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger. Scorpions range in size from 9 mm to 23 cm.

Etymology

The word "scorpion" is derived from the Latin scorpius, which in turn comes from the Greek skorpios.

Anatomy

Scorpions have two venom glands that produce venom used in hunting and self defense. Scorpions do not have bones instead they have an exoskeleton made of chitin, which is similar to the shell of a shrimp.

Behavior

Scorpions are nocturnal and fossorial, finding comfort in the dark and being able to dig well, respectively. They are solitary creatures and meet only to mate.

Habitat

Scorpions are found on all major land masses except Antarctica. Scorpions did not occur naturally in Great Britain, New Zealand and certain islands in Oceania, but now have been introduced there by human trade and colonization.

Medical Significance

While most species of scorpions are relatively harmless to humans, and stings are generally comparable in pain to those of bees, a few species can be dangerous to humans. The Arizona bark scorpion and the Deathstalker are two examples of scorpions that are particularly dangerous to humans.

Related Terms

• Arachnid
• Venom
• Stinger
• Pedipalps
• Exoskeleton
• Chitin
• Arizona bark scorpion
• Deathstalker

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Scorpion
• Wikipedia's article - Scorpion

This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski