Androctonus crassicauda (
Arabian fat-tailed scorpion) from the Middle East and North Africa
Scorpions are eight legged venomous arachnids of the order Scorpiones. They have a long body with an extended tail with a sting. The average adult scorpion is about 9 centimetres (3.5 in) in length. The longest scorpion is the Gigantometrus swammerdami (Giant forest scorpion) from India, which can be 23 centimetres (9.1 in) long. There are about 1,750 species of scorpions worldwide.
The evolutionary history of scorpions goes back to the Silurian, 430 million years ago. They have adapted to a wide range of environments, and live on all continents except Antarctica. There are 13 living families. Only about 25 species have venom which can kill a human being.
view more...