Some scorpion facts only serve to make us aware of how scary these creatures can appear. In fact, few people like these little guys, finding them anything from disgusting to downright traumatic. But the bad reputation of scorpions is entirely undeserved (similarly to that of some spiders as we show here in our 25 Adorable Spiders That Are Not As Scary As You Think). With these 25 cool scorpion facts we hope to show you the reality of how awesome these arthropods actually are. Scorpions are amazing creatures with astonishing abilities. You might know that scorpions have eight legs, two large crab-like pincers and a tail that ends with the notorious venomous stinger. You might have also heard something about their extraordinary adaptation skills. But did you know that Scorpions are highly resistant to radioactivity? How about the fact that scorpions have been on this planet relatively unchanged for over 400 million years? Keep on reading then because you are about to see how truly spectacular scorpions actually are. From the fact that scorpions are known to glow when exposed to certain wavelengths of ultraviolet light to the fact that although they resemble crustaceans like crayfish and crabs, scorpions are actually more closely related to ticks, mites and spiders, these are 25 cool scorpion facts most people may not be aware of.
There about 1750 different scorpion species with 13 extant families known to scientists.
Source and image: en.wikipedia.org
All scorpions are venomous but only about 25 species are known to have venom capable of killing a human being.
Source: en.wikipedia.org, image: flickr.com
Scorpions are one of the oldest animals on Earth. Their evolutionary history goes back to the Silurian era 430 million years ago. They evolved from giant scorpion-like creatures that emerged from the sea and have remained morphologically unchanged until now.
Source and image: en.wikipedia.org
Their lifespan is not very long though. Scorpions usually live up to 8 years in the wild.
Source: scorpionworlds.com, image: en.wikipedia.org
Scorpions have excellent adaptation abilities. They are found on all continents with the exception of Antarctica.
Source: en.wikipedia.org, image: commons.wikimedia.org
Although they resemble crustaceans like crayfish and crabs, scorpions are actually more closely related to ticks, mites and spiders.
Source: nationalgeographic.com, image: en.wikipedia.org
Scorpions can slow down their metabolism when food is rare. They can survive without food for up to one year.
Source and image: en.wikipedia.org
Scorpions range in size greatly – the smallest species is just about 9 mm (0.35 in) long while the largest species can reach over 20 cm (8 in).
Source and image: en.wikipedia.org
Scorpions tend to live in areas with temperatures ranging from 68 to 99 degrees F (20 to 37 C) but they can handle much more extreme temperatures. Researchers have even frozen scorpions overnight, only to put them in the sun the next day and watch them thaw out and walk away.
Source: nationalgeographic.com, image: commons.wikimedia.org
Despite having 6 to 12 eyes, scorpions have poor vision. Instead, they locate their prey through scent and ground vibrations.
Source: news.softpedia.com, image: en.wikipedia.org
The belief that scorpions commit suicide by stinging themselves to death when surrounded by fire is a myth. They are not known to have such suicidal behavior and if even they had, their venom has no effect on themselves.
Source: sheppardsoftware.com, image: pixabay.com
Scorpions are known to glow when exposed to certain wavelengths of ultraviolet light. Scientists are not sure of the purpose for this fluorescence but it might help the scorpions detect light.
Source: en.wikipedia.org, image: commons.wikimedia.org
Scorpion babies are called scorplings. They ride on their mother´s back until their first molt.
Source: softschools.com, image: commons.wikimedia.org
People have been fascinated with scorpions for millennia. The arachnids played an important role in some old civilizations´ mythologies and a zodiac sign was named after them.
Source: factsanddetails.com, image: pixabay.com
Scorpions can ingest food only in a liquid form; they have external digestion. The digestive juices from the gut are egested onto the food and the digested food is then sucked in liquid form.
Source: en.wikipedia.org, image: flickr.com
Females are usually larger than males. Occasionally, the female even kills and eats the male after mating.
Source: scorpionworlds.com, image: flickr.com
As nocturnal animals, scorpions usually only come out at night. In fact, some species spend up to 97% of their lives in their burrows.
Source: factsanddetails.com, image: en.wikipedia.org
Similarly to cockroaches, scorpions are great at reflecting radiation, which makes their chances of surviving a nuclear attack much higher than that of most other animal species.
Source: www.theguardian.com, image: flickr.com
Scorpions always try to subdue their prey mechanically with their pincers, saving their stingers only for a last resort because it can take up to a week or more to generate a new venom supply.
Source: factsanddetails.com, image: en.wikipedia.org
Colloquially known as the deathstalker, the Israeli yellow scorpion is considered the most dangerous scorpion species. Its sting is exceptionally painful and it can kill an adult man.
Source: en.wikipedia.org, image: commons.wikimedia.org
Scorpions are used in the pharmaceutical industry. In Pakistan, for example, farmers in the Thatta District are paid about US$100 for each 40 gram scorpion. 60 gram specimens are reported to fetch at least US$50,000. The trade is illegal though.
Source and image: en.wikipedia.org
In some parts of China, fried scorpions is a traditional dish. In Chinese medicine, scorpion wine is even used as an analgesic and antidote.
Source and image: en.wikipedia.org
To reach its adult size, a scorpion molts up to 7 times. During the first hours after molting, the scorpion is particularly vulnerable to an attack as the new body armor takes some time to harden.
Source: factsanddetails.com, image: commons.wikimedia.org
While the emperor scorpion is generally considered the largest scorpion species, it is the Heterometrus Swammerdami scorpion that holds the actual record for being the world´s largest scorpion ever found at 9 inch (23 cm). This species lives in Sri Lanka and India.
Source and image: en.wikipedia.org
Some scorpion poisons are 100,000 more powerful than cyanide. What makes the death rate relatively low is the fact that the dose of venom injected by scorpion is usually very small.
Source: factsanddetails.com, image: commons.wikimedia.org
