Scorpions: habitat, structure and appearance, lifestyle in nature. Scorpion venom: The most dangerous representatives. Hamsters turn scorpion venom into painkiller Who is the mortal enemy of the tree scorpion

If he bit an adult in good health, he will feel only severe pain and swelling at the site of the bite. However, the bite of such a scorpion is deadly for a child or an elderly person, as well as for people with poor health. The symptoms of a wood scorpion sting are as follows:

• sharp and burning pain
• limb numbness,
• foam in the mouth
• stop breathing,
• convulsions.

It is worth remembering that when a tree scorpion stings, the victim needs prompt medical attention. A stung person should be brought to rest, but not sedatives or alcohol are allowed.

To prevent further spread of the poison throughout the body, the place should be compressed, and it also does not hurt to apply ice to it. It is very important, if possible, to provide the doctors with the scorpion itself. Specialists will accurately determine its type and, in accordance with this, prescribe the correct treatment.

Thus, the tree scorpion is a very dangerous creature that is best avoided. It does not hurt a person to avoid his favorite places, as well as to protect his house from the attack of this animal.

The scorpion is an order of arthropods from the class of arachnids (Scorpiones - scorpions). These are interesting and unusual creatures, leading an exclusively terrestrial way of life and most often found in countries with a hot climate.

Scorpio - description, structure and photos

The appearance of the scorpion is quite frightening: the cephalothorax, wide in front and slightly tapering to the junction with an elongated segmented abdomen, is crowned with a pair of impressive claws that serve as a tool for capturing the long-awaited prey. Another pair of limbs of the scorpion has become a vestige, located at the very mouth and performs the function of the jaw organs - the mandibles. The remaining four pairs of legs of the scorpion, attached to the lower part of the abdomen, provide it with a fairly high speed of movement on shifting sand in the desert or on rocky soils in mountainous areas.

A relatively small pear-shaped segment-capsule with glands that produce poison adjoins the last segment of the abdomen. scorpion venom very dangerous, the scorpion injects it into its prey with a sharp needle.

The body of a scorpion is covered with a very strong chitinous shell, so it has practically no enemies that can harm it.

scorpion eyes

The eyesight of scorpions is very well developed. On the upper cephalothorax of a scorpion are 2-8 eyes. One pair of eyes is larger and is called the median eyes. It is located in the middle of the head. The remaining eyes of a scorpion are located near the anterior margin in lateral groups, they are called lateral eyes.

What color is a scorpion?

The color of the scorpion depends on the habitat and can be sandy yellow, brown, black, gray, purple, orange, green. There are also colorless species with a transparent body.

Types of scorpions, names and photos

• ImperialScorpion (pandinus imperator)

is a real giant among his relatives. The body length can reach 10-15 cm, and together with the tail and claws, it can exceed all 20 cm. Imperial scorpions are characterized by a black color with a noticeable dark green tint. The claws with which they capture and hold prey are thick and wide. Under natural conditions, they can live up to 13 years. This species of scorpion lives in the tropical forests of countries West Africa. Shelters in which they wait out the heat of the day are arranged in the ruins of stones, under the fallen bark of trees or in dug holes. The diet of young emperor scorpions consists of medium-sized insects, adults can attack small amphibians and mice.

Imperial scorpion

• tree scorpion ( Centruroides exilicauda)

has several varieties, the color of which can be either monochrome (different shades of yellow), or with black stripes or spots. The body length of adults without a tail reaches 7.5 cm. The claws of wood scorpions are thin and long, and the thickness of the tail does not exceed 5 mm. This type of scorpion is common in the forests of North Africa, the deserts of the USA and Mexico. Unlike their relatives in the order, tree scorpions do not dig holes. They find a place for shelter under pieces of tree bark, in rock crevices or in a human dwelling. Such a neighborhood is quite dangerous because the sting of a tree scorpion can be fatal for children, the elderly and people with poor health. Scorpions feed on small and large insects, young mice and lizards. Often attack relatives.

tree scorpion

• Desert hairy scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis)

It has a dark brown back and a light yellow tail. This contrasting coloration, along with the thin and long hairs that cover the legs and tail of the scorpion, are the hallmarks of this species. The size of adults can reach up to 17 cm along with the tail and claws. The distribution area of ​​​​this type of scorpion includes the territories of southern California and the deserts of Arizona. They prefer to wait out the heat of the day in dug holes or under stones. The hairy scorpion's diet consists of various beetles, crickets, cockroaches, moths, and other insects.

Desert hairy scorpion (Arizona gadurus)

• Black fat-tailed scorpion (Androctonus fat-tailed) (Androctonus crassicauda)

widely distributed in the desert areas of the United Arab Emirates and reaches a size of 12 cm. The color of individuals can be not only different shades of black, but also vary from olive green to red-brown. During the day, scorpions hide in burrows, under the ruins of stones, crevices of houses and fences near human habitats. The diet of this scorpion species consists of large insects and small vertebrates.

Black fat-tailed scorpion

• (southern androktonus) (Androctonus australis)

widely distributed in the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, East India, Afghanistan and Pakistan. This type of scorpion is characterized by a pale yellow body color and a dark brown or black sting. Adults can reach 12 cm in length. These scorpions live in rocky and sandy deserts or foothill areas. Minks, voids and crevices in the rocks are used as shelters. They feed on various small insects. The venom of the yellow fat-tailed scorpion is so strong that it is fatal two hours after being bitten. Unfortunately, no antidote for this toxin has yet been found.

• Stripedthal scorpion (Vaejovis spinigerus)

is a typical inhabitant of the deserts of Arizona and California. Coloring can be various shades of gray and brown with characteristic contrasting stripes on the back. The length of an adult does not exceed 7 cm. This scorpion lives in minks, but can wait out unfavourable conditions under any object that allows you to hide from the scorching sun.

Stripedthal scorpion

Where do scorpions live?

It is quite possible to meet with a scorpion on any part of the land, with the exception, perhaps, of the regions of the Arctic, Antarctica and the islands of New Zealand. They feel quite comfortable in the hot and temperate zones, in the tropical and subtropical zones, hiding from the daytime sun in crevices, under stones, or almost completely buried in the sand. As night falls, scorpions come out to hunt.

What does a scorpion eat?

By nature, a scorpion is a predator, so it feeds exclusively on insects (spiders, centipedes, grasshoppers, cockroaches), and if you're lucky, small rodents, lizards and mice.

In some cases, among these arthropods, there are cases of "cannibalism", when one individual eats its weaker relative. Having waited for potential prey, the scorpion in a throw captures it with powerful claws and instantly kills it with a prick of a poisonous sting.

Special structure digestive system allows the scorpion not to need daily food. The same is true with water - most often he receives the necessary amount of moisture from the "juices" of his victim.

Scorpion breeding

The mating season for scorpions is very unusual. Male and female perform an intricate and interesting "wedding" dance, sometimes lasting for hours. All this time, the male scorpion holds the female by the claws and leads her back and forth across the soil, periodically lowering the partner to the ground, where he had previously released his sperm.

The gestation period of a female scorpion lasts from 10 to 12 months, and the number of cubs varies from two to several dozen, depending on the species. For the first 8-12 days, small scorpions are not covered with a chitinous shell and spend time on their mother's back, clinging tightly to each other.

As soon as the hard shell is formed, they disperse throughout the territory and begin an independent existence. Under natural conditions, scorpions live 7-10 years.

Keeping scorpions at home

Today, some lovers of exotic animals keep scorpions at home, in terrariums, providing their pets with comfortable living conditions. To do this, the owners have to take care of the right substrate, proper lighting, nutrition and optimal humidity for each type of arachnid. Do not forget that the terrarium must be closed in order to exclude the possibility of a sudden “ward escape”: even if the individual is not poisonous and dangerous to humans, a scorpion sting is rather unpleasant and painful.

• Fragments of scorpion fossils found by scientists suggest their existence on Earth more than 400 million years ago;
• Scorpions perfectly withstand extreme temperatures: in the course of experiments, scientists froze representatives of this family at 25 degrees below zero for a day, then “warmed up” and, with amazement, watched a rather nimbly escaping scorpion;
• After mating, the female sometimes kills and eats her boyfriend with excellent appetite.

The scorpion is an order of arthropods from the class of arachnids (Scorpiones - scorpions). These are interesting and unusual creatures that lead an exclusively terrestrial lifestyle and are most often found in countries with a hot climate.

Scorpio - description, structure and photos

The appearance of the scorpion is quite frightening: the cephalothorax, wide in front and slightly tapering to the junction with an elongated segmented abdomen, is crowned with a pair of impressive claws that serve as a tool for capturing the long-awaited prey. Another pair of limbs of the scorpion has become a vestige, located at the very mouth and performs the function of the jaw organs - the mandibles. The remaining four pairs of legs of the scorpion, attached to the lower part of the abdomen, provide it with a fairly high speed of movement on shifting sand in the desert or on rocky soils in mountainous areas.

A relatively small pear-shaped segment-capsule with glands that produce poison adjoins the last segment of the abdomen. scorpion venom very dangerous, the scorpion injects it into its prey with a sharp needle.

The body of a scorpion is covered with a very strong chitinous shell, so it has practically no enemies that can harm it.

scorpion eyes

The eyesight of scorpions is very well developed. On the upper cephalothorax of a scorpion are 2-8 eyes. One pair of eyes is larger and is called the median eyes. It is located in the middle of the head. The remaining eyes of a scorpion are located near the anterior margin in lateral groups, they are called lateral eyes.

What color is a scorpion?

The color of the scorpion depends on the habitat and can be sandy yellow, brown, black, gray, purple, orange, green. There are also colorless species with a transparent body.

Types of scorpions, names and photos

• ImperialScorpion (pandinus imperator)

is a real giant among his relatives. The body length can reach 10-15 cm, and together with the tail and claws, it can exceed all 20 cm. Imperial scorpions are characterized by a black color with a noticeable dark green tint. The claws with which they capture and hold prey are thick and wide. Under natural conditions, they can live up to 13 years. This species of scorpion lives in the tropical forests of West Africa. Shelters in which they wait out the heat of the day are arranged in the ruins of stones, under the fallen bark of trees or in dug holes. The diet of young emperor scorpions consists of medium-sized insects, adults can attack small amphibians and mice.

Imperial scorpion

• tree scorpion ( Centruroides exilicauda)

has several varieties, the color of which can be either monochrome (different shades of yellow), or with black stripes or spots. The body length of adults without a tail reaches 7.5 cm. The claws of wood scorpions are thin and long, and the thickness of the tail does not exceed 5 mm. This type of scorpion is common in the forests of North Africa, the deserts of the USA and Mexico. Unlike their relatives in the order, tree scorpions do not dig holes. They find a place for shelter under pieces of tree bark, in rock crevices or in a human dwelling. Such a neighborhood is quite dangerous because the sting of a tree scorpion can be fatal for children, the elderly and people with poor health. Scorpions feed on small and large insects, young mice and lizards. Often attack relatives.

tree scorpion

• Desert hairy scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis)

It has a dark brown back and a light yellow tail. This contrasting coloration, along with the thin and long hairs that cover the legs and tail of the scorpion, are the hallmarks of this species. The size of adults can reach up to 17 cm along with the tail and claws. The distribution area of ​​​​this type of scorpion includes the territories of southern California and the deserts of Arizona. They prefer to wait out the heat of the day in dug holes or under stones. The hairy scorpion's diet consists of various beetles, crickets, cockroaches, moths, and other insects.

Desert hairy scorpion (Arizona gadurus)

• Black fat-tailed scorpion (Androctonus fat-tailed) (Androctonus crassicauda)

widely distributed in the desert areas of the United Arab Emirates and reaches a size of 12 cm. The color of individuals can be not only different shades of black, but also vary from olive green to red-brown. During the day, scorpions hide in burrows, under the ruins of stones, crevices of houses and fences near human habitats. The diet of this scorpion species consists of large insects and small vertebrates.

Black fat-tailed scorpion

• (southern androktonus) (Androctonus australis)

widely distributed in the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, East India, Afghanistan and Pakistan. This type of scorpion is characterized by a pale yellow body color and a dark brown or black sting. Adults can reach 12 cm in length. These scorpions live in rocky and sandy deserts or foothill areas. Minks, voids and crevices in the rocks are used as shelters. They feed on various small insects. The venom of the yellow fat-tailed scorpion is so strong that it is fatal two hours after being bitten. Unfortunately, no antidote for this toxin has yet been found.

• Stripedthal scorpion (Vaejovis spinigerus)

is a typical inhabitant of the deserts of Arizona and California. Coloring can be various shades of gray and brown with characteristic contrasting stripes on the back. The length of an adult does not exceed 7 cm. This scorpion lives in minks, but can wait out adverse conditions under any object that allows you to hide from the scorching sun.

Stripedthal scorpion

Where do scorpions live?

It is quite possible to meet with a scorpion on any part of the land, with the exception, perhaps, of the regions of the Arctic, Antarctica and the islands of New Zealand. They feel quite comfortable in the hot and temperate zones, in the tropical and subtropical zones, hiding from the daytime sun in crevices, under stones, or almost completely buried in the sand. As night falls, scorpions come out to hunt.

What does a scorpion eat?

By nature, a scorpion is a predator, so it feeds exclusively on insects (spiders, centipedes, grasshoppers, cockroaches), and if you're lucky, small rodents, lizards and mice.

In some cases, among these arthropods, there are cases of "cannibalism", when one individual eats its weaker relative. Having waited for potential prey, the scorpion in a throw captures it with powerful claws and instantly kills it with a prick of a poisonous sting.

The special structure of the digestive system allows the scorpion not to need daily food. The same is true with water - most often he receives the necessary amount of moisture from the "juices" of his victim.

Scorpion breeding

The mating season for scorpions is very unusual. Male and female perform an intricate and interesting "wedding" dance, sometimes lasting for hours. All this time, the male scorpion holds the female by the claws and leads her back and forth across the soil, periodically lowering the partner to the ground, where he had previously released his sperm.

The gestation period of a female scorpion lasts from 10 to 12 months, and the number of cubs varies from two to several dozen, depending on the species. For the first 8-12 days, small scorpions are not covered with a chitinous shell and spend time on their mother's back, clinging tightly to each other.

As soon as the hard shell is formed, they disperse throughout the territory and begin an independent existence. Under natural conditions, scorpions live 7-10 years.

Keeping scorpions at home

Today, some lovers of exotic animals keep scorpions at home, in terrariums, providing their pets with comfortable living conditions. To do this, the owners have to take care of the right substrate, proper lighting, nutrition and optimal humidity for each type of arachnid. Do not forget that the terrarium must be closed in order to exclude the possibility of a sudden “ward escape”: even if the individual is not poisonous and dangerous to humans, a scorpion sting is rather unpleasant and painful.

• Fragments of scorpion fossils found by scientists suggest their existence on Earth more than 400 million years ago;
• Scorpions perfectly withstand extreme temperatures: in the course of experiments, scientists froze representatives of this family at 25 degrees below zero for a day, then “warmed up” and, with amazement, watched a rather nimbly escaping scorpion;
• After mating, the female sometimes kills and eats her boyfriend with excellent appetite.

tree scorpion

The tree scorpion is found throughout Arizona, in extreme southeastern California near Arizona, and in southwestern New Mexico. In Mexico they are found in California Norte, California Sur, and Sonora. Tree scorpions reach a length of 3 inches and have a very thin tail only 1/16th of an inch wide; the body is yellow with no stripes. The tree scorpion is ubiquitous, usually not burrowing but living above ground under tree bark and in palm trees and crevices of rocky cliffs. Because it can climb slump end walls or stucco, this scorpion species can make its way into dwellings. Tree scorpions need moisture around houses and in the house. They can be found in stacked timber or bricks, firewood piles, basements, and attics. He only needs a 1/16 inch crack to get into the house.

Arizona hairy scorpion

The Arizona hairy scorpion, Hadrurus arizonensis, is a common desert species found in southern California and throughout Arizona. In southern California, it was reported in Imperial, Inyo, Grunt, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties. At maturity they can be 5 to 7 inches in length. Like many other desert scorpions, the Arizona hairy scorpion is a burrowing animal, but can also be found under rocks, sleeping bags, and other surface objects. This scorpion can often be found around houses and in garages. It can be found near swimming pools, in irrigated areas where prey such as beetles, cockroaches, crickets, moths, and other insects abound. During the day, it hides in logs, palm trees, and decorative bark, or under loose boards, logs, rocks , or tree bark. Like some other scorpions, the Arizona hairy scorpion may enter a home in search of water. Common indoor places to find them are dark, cool places in the bathroom or kitchen, as well as in attics and closets.

Stripedthal scorpion

The Stripedthal scorpion, Vaejovis spinigerus, is one of the most common scorpion species in southern California, Arizona, and the United States. It is a burrowing scorpion that is often found in sandy soil but can survive in a variety of habitats, from the desert floor to the rocky slope. At maturity, the stripedthal scorpion is 2-1/2 inches long and the body is striped on the outside. This scorpion is venomous but not considered dangerous. It can be found under normal objects such as sleeping bags, boots, and other similar items.

Red tree scorpion
Babycurus jacksoni

This African variety is extremely colorful. Their orange bodies often have reddish underparts, and their claws appear to have been dipped in chocolate. This species of scorpion generally prefers slightly damp soil and a place to climb and hide.

North American Forest Scorpion
Uroctonus mordax

The species is an example of the North American forest scorpion, although they may occasionally be found in the nearby desert with wet conditions. They are usually quite sneaky in semi-moist soil.

vaiospecies scorpions
Vaejovis paysonensis

Some scorpions may stay in groups. This variety is one of them. Vaejovis paysonensis live among plants in the northern reaches of Arizona. Although this is a small variety, they are very fast. If you give them a handful of peat, you will notice that all the scorpions will get close to him and will consider him as an object of habitation. They are
prefer semi-moist soil, such as might be found under plant parts.

Superstitionid - scorpions
Superstitionia donensis

S. donensis is a small but complexly colored scorpion found throughout many of the Southwestern states. His habits are extremely reclusive. Reaching a head size of one inch and having a relatively ineffective venom that usually refuses to be used, this scorpion will often play dead when threatened for a few seconds or even minutes, and then continue with its normal activities. This species is very hardy, surviving in semi-damp conditions.

"Diplocentrus Spitzer"
Diplocentrus spitzeri

This is a good mountain scorpion from southern Arizona, known for its bright brilliance and magnificent dark coloration. Interestingly, young specimens are much lighter in color and darken only with age. We have observed that these species molt more frequently in captivity. We think they look similar to a small imper Pandinus (emperor) scorpion, although spitzeri are smaller in overall size of about two inches. Diplocentrus generally tend to have relatively large pincers and a thicker body. This species is not commonly captured due to its reclusive habitats.

Scorpions Diplocentrus peloncillensis
Diplocentrus lindo

D. lindo lives in the Great Bend region of Texas. Like other American scorpions of its genus, it is hardy, stocky, and fairly easy to reproduce in captivity. The main dimensions are also about two inches. This species is not commonly caught or marketed due to reclusive habitats and the fact so much of its range can only be collected with federal permits.

Scorpion of the Dune
Smeringurus mesaensis

Smeringurus mesaensis is a species of scorpion that lives in the dunes in Arizona. Despite this claim, dunes are very hard to find in Arizona. S. mesaensis reach sizes up to 5 inches. Their coloration, or perhaps more likely the lack of it, is particularly striking. The lack of color gives them an ethereal beauty that we don't see with other scorpions. Variations of the same species found in California tend to be of a yellowish tint, which is also attractive, but the ethereal quality is lost.

Scorpions Smeringus vachoni
Smeringus vachoni

Known primarily from preserved specimens collected in the 1960s, we have reviewed some of these giants. This species is almost the same size as the Hadrurus arizonensis (desert hairy scorpion), but they have a thin tail. They also have an attractive purplish claw coloration.

Chinese Scorpio
Mesobuthus martensii

This variety is from China. We kept them somewhat damp, on sandy soil or peat. These scorpions are some of the ones that do quite well in a communal setting. As with any communal scorpions there may be minor casualties in the beginning, as they must be fed well. One way to minimize the initial sacrifice is to put only one or two instances into the new container at a time. This avoids mass panic, which might somehow lead to fatal stings from sheer confusion.

Lychas mucronatus

Chinese swimming Scorpions can also be kept in communal groups. We find that dry soils are not for them. These scorpions are good swimmers.

Devil Scorpion
Vaejovis spinigeris

The adult size of devil scorpions is usually a little less than two inches. They are rather cold little scorpions with relatively mild venom. We have noted these scorpions cohabitating with local Arizona native geckos on so many occasions. It was noted that they shared shelters. Whether they shared actual burrows also remains unknown. This would possibly be interesting idea for further research.

Pale hairy scorpion
Hadrurus arizonensis pallidus

This scorpion is one of our favorites. This scorpion stings more readily than the Emperor, but not as readily as some. Although we do not recommend handling, the scorpion in this picture has allowed itself to be handled without bending the telson. A mixture of sand and soil is preferred. Great difficulty for this species of molt.

Conclusion

Scorpios are often misunderstood. Most people say that scorpions are so aggressive that they sting themselves to death, but this is not the natural behavior of scorpions in the wild. Other people say that the sting of a young scorpion is more dangerous than that of an adult, but again, it is false. Poison in the sting of a scorpion - throughout the life of a scorpion is also false. Possibly the most big myth- that all scorpions are poisonous, and this is completely wrong. Only a very few scorpions are potentially dangerous to humans. Of the 1,500 known species of scorpion, only 25 have stingers powerful enough to be considered potentially dangerous to humans. Only one life in the United States. The most dangerous scorpion in Arizona is the tree scorpion, Centruroides sculpturatus.

In the southwestern parts of the United States, Arizona is home to a large number of tree scorpions. Arizona is also home to the only antivenin program in North America. Antitivenin is used to study severe scorpion stings. Marilyn Bloom heads the Arizona State University and the Antivenin Program. She reports that despite a large number of of people and scorpions in Arizona, only about 100 of those stung annually take antivenin, and most of those are either young children or the elderly. Most important for serious scorpion stings is immediate access to treatment, and the availability of antivenin. In less developed countries lack of transportation to medical care contributes to higher numbers of scorpion stings resulting in illness or death. No bite resulting in death has been reported in Arizona for over 40 years.

Marilyn Bloom's advice to avoid the sting of a scorpion is simple. "Don't put your fingers or toes where you can't see them," she says. If you think there are scorpions around, shake your clothes and shoes before putting them on, especially if you work or live outside. Always keep your boots out in the open, especially around swimming pools or other water sources. If you think you have scorpions in your home, examine your bedding before you go to bed. Also, remember that scorpions are active at night. Most importantly, never play with scorpions. Even though they are interesting, they are wild creatures and can hurt you.

If you think a scorpion has stung you, there are a few signs to watch out for. Signs include: Local pain where stung but no swelling, touching the sting area is painful, numbness and tingling in parts of the body distant from the sting, occasional eye movements, pain when swallowing, drooling and tongue feeling swollen, slurred speech. Young children may rub their faces, which may indicate facial numbness; twitching muscle; and restlessness, irritability, or hyperactivity. Not all of these symptoms will occur in every person, although some should appear in the first two or three hours. Children under 10 years of age are at higher risk than other people.

First aid for a bite is simple. Wash the sting area with soap and water. You can apply a cool compress to the sting site, but do not use ice. The numbness and tingling should decrease. If symptoms persist or are severe, seek medical attention.

Scorpions are the oldest detachment not only among arachnids, but also among terrestrial arthropods in general. As noted, they represent the descendants of the Paleozoic eurypterids, and this is a rare example among arthropods, where the transition from an aquatic to a terrestrial way of life is quite fully traced from paleontological materials. Among the Silurian eurypterids, forms were found that are very similar to scorpions, but lived in water and breathed with the help of abdominal gill legs. In land scorpions, the latter have turned into lungs. The structure of walking legs has also changed. In aquatic forms, they ended in a pointed segment ( pointed-legged group- Apoxipodes), the terrestrial legs lengthened and their end parts turned into jointed paws adapted to walking on land ( two-claw group- Dionychopodes). Terrestrial forms, in general similar to modern scorpions, are already present in the deposits of the Carboniferous period.

,

Scorpions are medium-sized or large forms, usually 5-10 cm, some up to 20. In appearance, large pedipalps with claws and a jointed flexible metasoma (“tail”) with a poisonous apparatus at the end are most characteristic. In structure, scorpions are closest to the prototype of chelicerae. Three parts of the body - pro-, meso- and metasoma - are well expressed, each consists of 6 segments. The cephalothoracic shield is entire, it has a pair of larger median eyes and up to 5 pairs of small lateral ones. Chelicerae are small, claw-shaped, pedipalps are very large with massive claws. The coxae of the pedipalps and the two front pairs of legs have chewing processes directed towards the mouth. The abdomen adjoins the cephalothorax with a wide base, the pregenital (7th) segment is atrophied. The anterior part of the abdomen (mesosoma) is wider, its segments have isolated tergites and sternites; modified abdominal limbs are represented by a complete set: genital opercula on the eighth segment, ridge-like organs on the ninth, lung sacs on the tenth to thirteenth. The segments of the posterior section (metasoma) are narrow cylindrical; the tergite and sternite of each segment are fused into a single sclerite ring; the first metasomal segment is conical. The metasoma ends with a swollen caudal segment; a poisonous gland is placed in it, the duct of which opens at the end of a curved sharp sting. The scutes of the trunk and segments of the extremities are formed by a very hard cuticle, often with a ribbed or tuberculate sculpture.

Scorpions live in countries with a warm or hot climate, and are found in a wide variety of habitats, from humid forests and littoral sea ​​coasts to barren rocky areas and sandy deserts. Some species are found in the mountains at an altitude of 3 - 4 thousand meters above sea level. It is customary to distinguish between hygrophilous scorpion species living in humid areas and xerophilic scorpion species found in dry areas. But this division is largely arbitrary, since they are all active at night, and during the day they hide in shelters, under stones, under loose bark, in the burrows of other animals, or burrow into the soil, so that even in dry areas they find places where the air is sufficiently humid. . Differences in relation to temperature are more distinct. Most species are heat-loving, but some, living high in the mountains, as well as at the northern and southern borders of the scorpion range, tolerate cold winters well when inactive. Some species are found in caves, but they are random aliens here. Scorpions are frequent visitors to the dwelling of a person, but there are no real roommates of a person (synanthropes) among them.

The way of life of scorpions was studied by a number of researchers, we owe valuable information to Fabre. When kept in a perch, the habits of scorpions are distorted, and, as some authors note, there is no more freedom-loving creature than a scorpion.

Scorpions in captivity need a sufficient variety of conditions and the possibility of their free choice: a large cage area, different soil or sand moisture in different parts of it, the presence of shelters, periodic changes in light and temperature, etc. At the same time, the behavior of scorpions is close to natural, in In particular, the daily rhythm of activity is clearly expressed.

The scorpion comes out hunting at night and is especially active in hot weather. It walks slowly with its “tail” raised, with half-bent pedipalps forward with open claws. He moves by feeling, the main role is played by protruding tactile hairs (trichobothria) of the pedipalps. The scorpion is very sensitive to touching a moving object and either grabs it if it is a suitable prey, or retreats, taking a threatening posture: it abruptly bends the “tail” over the cephalothorax and swings it from side to side. The prey is seized by the claws of the pedipalps and brought to the chelicerae. If it is small, then it is immediately kneaded by chelicerae and the contents are absorbed. If the prey resists, the scorpion stings it one or more times, immobilizing and killing with poison. Scorpions feed on live prey, the objects of hunting are very diverse: spiders, haymakers, centipedes, various insects and their larvae, cases of eating small lizards and even mice are known. Scorpions can starve for a very long time, they can be kept without food for several months, there are cases of starvation up to a year and a half. Most species probably go their entire lives without water, but some tropical rainforest dwellers drink water. When kept together in small cages, a scorpion often eats a fellow.

The biology of reproduction is peculiar. Mating is preceded by a "nuptial walk". Male and female grapple with claws and, raising their “tails” vertically, walk together for many hours and even days. Usually the male, backing away, entails a more passive female. Then copulation takes place. At the same time, individuals hide in some kind of shelter, which the male, without releasing the female, quickly clears with the help of his legs and “tail”. Fertilization is spermatophoric. Individuals touch the ventral sides of the anterior abdomen, and the male introduces sperm bags into the female genital tract, and then secretes a special secret, which seals the female's genital opening. It is believed that when mating, scallops, the modified limbs of the ninth segment, play some role. They are equipped with numerous sense organs. At rest, the scallops are pressed to the abdomen; when mating, they protrude and oscillate. But they also bulge when the scorpion moves, and they are also credited with the role of organs of balance and some other functions.

Scorpions are mostly viviparous, some species lay eggs in which the embryos are already developed, so that juveniles soon hatch. This phenomenon is called ovoviviparity. The development of embryos in the mother's body is long; from a few months to a year or more. In some species, the eggs are rich in yolk and the embryos develop in the egg membranes, in others there is almost no yolk and the embryos soon emerge into the lumen of the ovary. As they grow, numerous swellings of the ovary are formed, in which the embryos are placed. They feed on the secretions of special glandular appendages of the ovary.

Embryos can be from 5-6 to several dozen, less often about a hundred. Baby scorpions are born wrapped in an embryonic membrane that sheds shortly after. They climb onto the mother's body and usually stay on it for 7-10 days. Scorpions of the first age do not actively feed, they are whitish, with a smooth cover and sparse hairs, the paws are devoid of claws and have suction cups at the end. Remaining on the body of the female, they molt, and after a while they leave the mother and begin to search for food on their own. After molting, the integuments harden and stain, claws appear on the paws. A scorpion becomes an adult a year and a half after birth, making 7 molts during this time. Life expectancy has not been precisely established, but it is usually at least several years. There are interesting cases of anomalies that occur in the embryonic development of scorpions, for example, the doubling of the “tail”, and the individuals are viable and grow to adulthood (“two-tailed scorpion” is mentioned by the already famous Roman scientist Pliny the Elder in his “Natural History”, 1st century AD e. .).

Hard covers and a poisonous apparatus do not always save scorpions from enemies. Large predatory centipedes, salpugs, some spiders, praying mantises, lizards, and birds cope with them. There are species of monkeys that feast on scorpions, carefully removing the "tail". But the worst enemy of scorpions is man. Since ancient times, the scorpion has been the subject of disgust and mystical horror, and, perhaps, there is no other arthropod that would give rise to so many tales and legends. Scorpio appears both in the ancient myths of the Egyptians and Greeks, and in the prescriptions of medieval alchemists as a magical attribute of the "transformation" of lead into gold, and in astrology, since one of the zodiac constellations bears the name of the scorpion, and among Christians as a typical component of the "fauna" of the underworld. Curious are the assurances that scorpions can end their lives with “suicide”: if you surround a scorpion with burning coals, then in order to avoid a painful death, it seems to kill itself with a sting. This opinion is not true, but has a well-known basis. The fact is that the scorpion, like some other arthropods, under the influence of strong stimuli, can fall into a motionless state - a phenomenon of imaginary death (catalepsy, or thanatosis). Being surrounded by burning coals, the scorpion, of course, rushes about in search of a way out, assumes a threatening posture, waves its “tail”, and then suddenly becomes motionless. This picture is taken for "suicide". But after some time, such a scorpion "comes to life", unless it is baked from the heat. Equally unreasonable is the rather widespread belief that a scorpion specifically seeks out a sleeping person at night to sting him. Where there are many scorpions, on hot nights, making their hunting walks, they often visit dwellings and can even climb onto the bed. If a sleeping person crushes a scorpion or touches it, then the scorpion can strike with its “tail”, but, of course, there are no special searches for a person here.

A scorpion sting is a means of attack and defense. On small invertebrates, which usually serve as food for a scorpion, the poison acts almost instantly: the animal immediately stops moving. But the larger centipedes and insects do not die immediately and live for a day or two after the injection; there are also insects that, apparently, are generally insensitive to the venom of scorpions. For small mammals, scorpion venom is mostly fatal. The poisonousness of different types of scorpions is very different. For a person, a scorpion sting is usually not fatal, but a number of cases are known with very serious consequences, even fatal, especially in children and in hot climates. When injected, pain, swelling appear, then drowsiness, chills, and sometimes a temperature reaction occur. Usually after a day or two these phenomena pass, but they can be delayed. It all depends on which scorpion pricked, whom and where. In our country, most cases of scorpion stings are observed in Central Asia and Transcaucasia, where scorpions are common and numerous.

About 600 species of scorpions are known, belonging to about 70 genera and 6 families. The geographical distribution of scorpions is of great interest for zoogeography - the science of the patterns of distribution of animals. Being the oldest terrestrial arthropods, scorpions reflect in their distribution the geological and climatic changes and the change of plant and animal communities that have occurred many times in the history of the Earth. The limited ability of scorpions to settle makes this data particularly valuable: in most cases, certain forms are present where they have managed to survive from ancient times.

The works of a number of scientists are devoted to the development of classification and the study of the distribution of scorpions. Very valuable are the studies of A. A. Byalynitsky-Biruli, who in his work on the scorpions of the Caucasus (1917) made a remarkable analysis of materials on the distribution and evolution of scorpions in general. At present, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bdistribution of scorpions encircles the globe between about 50 ° north and south latitude, but in past eras, up to the end of the Tertiary period, when the climate was warmer and humid forests extended to high latitudes, scorpions were found on most of the land.

According to morphological features, scorpions fall into two large groups: butoids represented by the Buthidae family (up to 300 species), and hacktoids(other families). It is believed that these groups separated in remote times, probably already in the Silurian period, and since then each has evolved in its own way, in its own way reflecting the phenomena that influenced the distribution of fauna (separation of the continents, climate change, etc.). The distribution of primitive representatives of these groups confirms the data of geology that the world's land for a long time (from the beginning of the Paleozoic until the first half of the Cenozoic era) was divided by seas into two sets of continents - northern and southern. So, the ancient subfamily of butoids - Isometrinae - is distributed mainly in Africa and South America, and for South America and at the same time Australia, a peculiar family Bothriuridae is characteristic. Ancient hacktoid scorpions of the families Chactidae and Vejovidae are confined to the subtropical zone of the northern hemisphere in the Old and New Worlds and are completely absent in Africa and Australia.

The general picture of the modern distribution of scorpions is the result of a complex stratification of faunistic elements of different eras and, on the whole, confirms the division of land into zoogeographic regions, established on the basis of the distribution of animals in general. In the Buthidae family, subfamilies, and often even genera, are strictly confined to certain zoogeographic regions, i.e., they have a high degree of endemism. Thus, the subfamilies Centrurinae and Tityinae inhabit the North and Central American regions of the Neotropical region. The genera Parabuthus and Babycurus from the subfamily Buthinae are characteristic of the Ethiopian region of Africa (south of the Sahara); the genus Grosphus is found only in Madagascar. Many genera live along the borders of deserts from the Atlantic Ocean to India, representing Sahara-Indian faunal elements. The genera Isometrus and Isometroides are characteristic of the Australian fauna. Among hacktoid scorpions, lodfamilies and entire families have a high degree of endemism. The family Scorpionidae is mainly represented by Ethiopian forms, the Madagascar genus Heteroscorpius, and the Indo-Malayan Heterometrus. In the family Chactidae, as mentioned, there are no Ethiopian species, the subfamily Chactinae is neotropical, Cherilinae is Indo-Malayan, Scorpioninae is Mediterranean. The distribution of subfamilies of the family Vejovidae is similar. The family Bothriuridae is mainly South American, but there are species living in Australia and Sumatra. The fauna of India is especially rich in scorpions, where there are over 80 species. There are about 100 species in the fauna of the Palearctic, of which about 15 are found in the USSR.

In Transcaucasia, the Lower Volga region and throughout Central Asia, it is common motley scorpion(Buthus eupeus), forming a number of subspecies. It is brown-yellow with dark spots and longitudinal stripes on the back, up to 6.5 mm long. In Crimea, especially on the southern coast, it is not rare Crimean scorpion(Euscorpius tauricus), characteristic only of the Crimea. It is light yellow, claws are narrow, brownish, 35-40 mm long. Common in Western Transcaucasia mingrelian scorpion(E. mingjelicus), reddish brown, lighter below, up to 40 mm long. On the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus still lives italian scorpion(E. italicus), red-brown or almost black, up to 55 mm long.

Animal life: in 6 volumes. - M.: Enlightenment. Edited by professors N.A. Gladkov, A.V. Mikheev. 1970 .