Scientific Classification
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Chelicerata Class: Arachnida Subclass: Dromopoda Order: Scorpiones |
General Info
Scorpions are very fascinating creatures. They have a reputation of being incredibly harmful and deadly to humans. In reality, only about 25 of the approximate 1,500 known species possess venom capable of killing humans (Polis 3). It is usually only powerful enough to kill insects and other small animals. The sting is actually usually far less painful than that of a honeybee. Scorpions are incredibly successful predators. As many as 13 different species have been found to inhabit the same area. They are also generally very resistant to extreme environmental conditions. Some species can survive being supercooled below the freezing point for several weeks while others can withstand temperatures several degrees higher than most other desert arthropods and others can even survive submersion in water for up to two days. They thermoregulate their bodies by nocturnal activity, retreating to burrows, and stilting (polis 4). “Stilting” refers to a stance taken by the scorpion in which it straightens its legs and lifts itself up off the substrate to allow maximum air flow on all sides of the body for cooling (Alexander and Ewer 349).
|