Order Scorpiones

Scorpions have etched themselves irrevocably into human culture because of a few lethally venomous species. But only 25 species out of the 1750 currently described are dangerous to humans. Although they are found on all major land masses, except New Zealand and Antarctica, most of us may never see one. This is because they are nocturnal, typically don't move much, and hide during the day.

They are characterized by the possession of a grasping pair of pincers (pedipalps to the specialists), and a long "tail" at the end of which is a venomous stinger. They can apparently measure the dosage delivered during a sting which is just as well because in some species the male stings the female during courtship, either to slow her down or to excite her - no one seems to have asked.

During courtship, males grasp the female with their pedipalps - pedipalps to pedipalps. Then a long dance ensues. At some point the male deposits a spermatophore (a package filled with sperm) and maneuvers the female over it. She takes it into her genital opening and the package ruptures, releasing sperm which fertilizes the eggs. Females give birth to live young and these are carried on her back at least until the first molt, at which time they take up an independent existence.

I was stung by a scorpion when I was on the Nadrau Plateau on the Island of Viti Levu in Fiji. I had just chopped open an antplant and carelessly put my hand inside, which obviously annoyed the scorpion. I would rank this one on a par with a wasp or bee sting for pain. A few minutes after the sting, my hand started swelling and this continued up my arm. I remember asking my friend Jon Brodie "What's going to happen to me" whereupon Jon replied with a cheery, "You're going to die". This is the same Jon Brodie who laughed so hard as I was being attacked by a small shark, while I was collecting water samples, that he ended up rolling on the beach sand with tears pouring down his face. And we are still friends ...

As always, Wikipedia has a great over view of this arachnid order.

Centruroides exilicauda Desert scorpion

Centruroides exilicauda Desert scorpion, Catavina, Baja California IMG 5771

Isometrus maculatus

Isometrus maculatus, Fiji. If this identification is correct (which I seriously doubt) this is the most widely distributed scorpion on the planet.

Liocheles australiasiae

Pandinus imperator Imperial or emperor scorpion

Scorpion 1

Scorpion 2 Tityus?

Tityus obscurus