Scorpion

Scorpions are predatory arthropods within the Order Scorpiones and the Class Arachnida.

Scorpions are some of the most familiar of arthropods. Even if scorpions do not live in your part of the world you are almost certain to know what they look like. Scorpions have a very distinctive body structure as they have two long pedipalps ending in chelae (pincers) and a sting attached to a tail that is often curved over the body of the animal when it is threatened.

Although scorpions are often feared by humans only around 20 species out of 1,500 have venom that is potentially lethal to humans.

Emperor Scorpion - Pandinus imperator. The distinctive chelae (pincers) and sting are clearly visible.

Other names for (or types of) Scorpion include:

• Scorpiones

Related terms

• Acari
• Arachnid
• Book lung
• Chelae
• Chelicerae
• Chelicerata
• Mite
• Pseudoscorpion
• Spider
• Sting
• Tick

Related pages on this web site

• Arachnids
• Scorpion caresheet

See other words beginning with S