Scorpions, also known as scorpions, are arachnids that have inhabited our planet for millions of years. Within the characteristics of the scorpions we find that they are small poisonous animals that have two large claws, a body divided into three parts or segments and a stinger on the back that allows them to defend themselves from their predators, while at the same time giving them the ability to capture their prey. They live under stones or tree trunks in humid or arid areas and come out of their hiding places at night to feed on insects, spiders, other small invertebrates, etc., since they are generally nocturnal animals.
There are more than 1,000 species of scorpions in the world, differentiated from one another either by their morphology, their distribution or their danger. This is why we can group these animals into different types or families. If you want to know what are the types of scorpions or scorpions, this article on our site may be very interesting.
Scorpions of the family Buthidae
The scorpions belonging to this family are distributed practically all over the world, inhabiting all kinds of places, from the most humid to the most arid. They have yellowish and/or brown colors and can take on various sizes, from 2 or 3 centimeters to approximately 15 centimeters. It includes most of the known species, including the most dangerous scorpions in the world A clear example can be found in the yellow Palestinian scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatu), the yellow scorpion (Tityus serrulatus) or the black-tailed scorpion (Androctonus bicolor).
Scorpions of the family Bothriuridae
This family of scorpions includes some genera of scorpions that are distributed throughout South America, Africa, Australia and Asia. Species such as the Buenos Aires scorpion (Bothriurus bonariensis) are well-known, striking for their low level of danger, since it is a low-venomous scorpion endemic to Argentina. It can measure up to 6 centimeters and its body colors vary from dark brown to black, passing through somewhat more reddish tones. In addition, it has generally short pedipalps or anterior appendages at the end of which the tweezers are housed. Other species also stand out, such as Bothriurus coriaceus, which is native to Chile.
Scorpions of the family Euscorpiidae
This group includes species such as the black or yellow-tailed scorpion (Euscorpius flavicaudis), also known as the yellow-tailed scorpion. However, its body is practically black and can measure up to approximately 5 centimeters in length. It is distributed in different parts of the world, living in humid and dark places. Like the previous species, it is a scorpion slightly poisonous and, therefore, its sting is not very dangerous. Another well-known species belonging to this type of scorpions is the Balearic scorpion (Euscorpius balearicus), endemic to the Gimnesias Islands, since the scorpions of the Euscorpiidae family are distributed throughout southern Europe and the African continent.
Scorpions of the family Caraboctonidae
This family includes species of scorpions such as Hadrurus arizonensis, also known as the giant desert scorpion, which is distributed throughout the American continentThese scorpions adopt more subdued colors such as gray or yellow and can measure more than 10 centimeters. However, the sexual dimorphism is very marked, since the males tend to have more elongated bodies and the females somewhat wider. Hadrurus hirsutus, known as the robust desert scorpion, is another species belonging to the Caraboctonidae family and, like H. arizonensis and many other scorpions of the group, is found in different states of America such as Mexico and California. Thus, this is one of the most common types of scorpions in Mexico.
Scorpions of the family Superstitioniidae
Includes around nine species of scorpions alone, as is the case of Superstitionia donensis, distributed throughout different caves inCalifornia, Arizona and Mexico , mainly. They are characterized by their small size, their peculiar integumentary shine and their dark brown or black body tones. In addition, since they live in places where there is practically no light, the vision of these types of scorpions is very poorly developed.
Scorpions of the family Hemiscorpiidae
These scorpions are characterized by a more robust, wide and flattened body, and can measure more than 20 centimeters in length. As an example we find the species Hadogenes troglodytes, known as the flat rock scorpion, found on the African continentIt is characterized by its dark gray-black body, its large front pincers and its thin tail or metasoma ending in a powerful stinger. However, their venom is not as dangerous as that of other species.
It should be noted that not all the genera included in this family of scorpions are distributed in Africa, since many species can also be found in Australia or South America, as is the case of Opisthacanthus brevicauda.
In the image we can see the flat rock scorpion.
Scorpions of the family Vaejovidae
This family includes scorpions or scorpions typical of the American continent, such as the United States, Canada and MexicoAmong the known species is Vaejovis morelia, characterized by its short, round body. These small scorpions do not exceed 3 centimeters in length and have dark colors such as brown or black. They can inhabit practically all habitats, although they tend to predominate in the most arid places. Within this group we also find species such as the southern striped scorpion (Vaejovis carolinianus) and Vaejovis granulatus.
In the image we can see the southern striped scorpion.
Scorpions of the family Microcharmidae
The types of scorpions belonging to this group are characterized by being small, as adult scorpions do not usually exceed 16 millimeters in length. They all inhabit the African continent and, like other species, have a darker coloration in the central part of the body and brown-orange tones in the area of the legs and pedipalps. As an example we find the species Microcharmus madagascariensis or Microcharmus maculatus, both endemic to Madagascar.
Scorpions of the family Scorpionidae
This family includes more than 260 species, including Heterometrus laoticus, known as the Vietnam forest scorpion, which inhabits the regions with vegetation and tropical climate of the Asian continent. It is characterized by its large size, as it can exceed 20 centimeters in length, and a practically black color throughout its entire body.
However, this great family also includes other species that are distributed throughout other continents, such as the Pandinus arabicus scorpion and the emperor scorpion (Pandinus imperator), which inhabit the peninsula arabica and the tropical forests of Africa.
Scorpions of the family Iuridae
This group of scorpions includes species native to the United States or the Asian continent. They are characterized by their dark brown color and strong pedipalps with even darker tips. They usually have medium sizes and the females are a few centimeters larger than the male scorpions. As for their danger, they have a poison capable of causing great pain, although without being fatal. Species belonging to this family are Calchas anlasi and Calchas nordmanni, which inhabit countries such as Turkey and Iraq.
In the image we see the species Calchas normanni.
Scorpions of the family Pseudochactidae
These scorpions are characterized by having lighter shades, as in the case of Vietbocap thienduongensis, a Vietnamese species with long, thin appendages and pale brown coloration. However, as in most types of scorpions, the central part of the back is usually slightly darker. Also, unlike other deadly scorpions, its venom is not as dangerous
Other species belonging to the Pseudochactidae family are Vietbocap canhi and Vietbocap lao, which also inhabit the Asian continent.
Scorpions of the family Chactidae
All the representatives of this family of scorpions are distributed throughout different regions of the American continent As a clear example we find Chactas adornellae, Anuroctonus pococki and Broteochactas gollmeri. All of them are characterized by their small size (around 2 or 3 centimeters in length), a hexagonal-shaped sternum, dark colors that vary between brown and black, and two highly developed lateral eyes, among others.
In the image we see the species Anuroctonus pococki.
