Scorpions

Facts About Scorpions

There are about 1,300-2,000 species of scorpions. The most venomous is the Deathstalker scorpion of the middle east. Though some says it’s rare. The fat-tail scorpion of Africa actually causes the most deaths. It is not as venomous but more common, less elusive, and perhaps slightly meaner. Generally only children, the elderly, those with compromised immune systems or other infirmities are at the greatest risk of dying from a scorpion sting. Despite stings to healthy adults being rarely fatal they still cause thousands of deaths per year in South America. A group of scorpions would be a cyclone. Buthidae is the largest family of scorpions, containing about 80 genera and over 800 species as of mid-2008.

 

Scorpion’s body parts:
1 = Cephalothoraxor Prosoma;
2 = Abdomen or Mesosoma;
3 = Tail or Metasoma;
4 = Claws or Pedipalps
5 = Legs
6 = Mouth parts or Chelicerae;
7 = pincers or Chelae;
8 = Moveable claw or Tarsus;
9 = Fixed claw or Manus;
10 = Sting or Telson;
11 = Anus.

 

  

Scorpion sting and venom

All known scorpion species possess venom and use it primarily to kill their prey so that it can be eaten; in general it is fast-acting, allowing for effective prey capture. Though the scorpion has a fearsome reputation as venomous, only about 25 species have venom capable of killing a human being. It is also used as a defense against predators. The venom is a mixture of compounds (neurotoxins, enzyme inhibitors, etc.) each not only causing a different effect, but possibly also targeting a specific animal. Each compound is made and stored in a pair of glandular sacs and is released in a quantity regulated by the scorpion itself. Of the 1000+ known species of scorpion, only 25 have venom that is dangerous to humans; most of those belong to the family Buthidae.

 

The Most Venomous Scorpion

The most venomous scorpion is The Deathstalker scorpions. It is found in a number of regions around the world, ranging from the northern zone of Africa to the Middle East, especially Egypt. It can grow up to 3.5 - 4.5 inches (9 - 11.5 cm) it usually die at 5 years old. They usually lived in a place like Scrubland and desserts they hide in small natural burrows or under stones. Death Stalkers have small, weak pincers with dark colored tips, which can almost be regarded as black. The females are larger in the size, than the males. A very easy way to identify and distinguish the Death stalker is from its thin cauda or tail and its thin claws or pedipalps. But other people says the Fat tailed scorpions are the most venomous scorpions, because their population are way more than the Deathstalker scorpions. The Fat tailed  is spread in North and West Africa, the Middle East and eastwards to the Hindukush region. Countries where Androctonus (scorpions) species live include: Morocco, Algeria,Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Togo, Israel, India, Lebanon Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Bahrain and Pakistan.