Scorpion Sizes

Scorpions are arthropods that are found all around the world. They are nocturnal creatures that are related to spiders and other types of arachnids. The body of a scorpion is a very intimidating one. Scorpions have eight legs, two pincers (claws) and a long tail with a stinger at the tip. There are over 1,300 known species of scorpions around the world; all scorpions are venomous creatures, but only certain species have venom that is dangerous to humans.

Species

• The size of a scorpion is sometimes determined by its species. Some types are known to get very large, whereas others are extremely small in comparison. One of the largest species is the emperor scorpion, which as an adult can reach up to 8 inches long. Although the emperor scorpion can be very frightening to look at, it is actually not very aggressive and very rarely uses its venom. The smallest known scorpion species is the Microtityus, which only reaches 12 mm as a full-size adult. On average, scorpions will be anywhere between 4 and 12 cm in length.

Maturity

• The age of the scorpion plays a factor in its size. After birth, scorpions are carried on the back of the mother until a certain level of maturity is reached. In order for a scorpion to grow, it must molt (shedding of its old exoskeleton). With each molting period, the growing scorpion reaches its next instar, the period between molts. This will go on anywhere between four to nine times before the scorpion has reached its maximum size, depending on the species.

Venom

• The size of a scorpion also determines how it releases venom when it feels attacked or when subduing prey. The smaller the scorpion, the more venom it will release. This is true for baby scorpions as well as for species that are naturally smaller. Because of their small size, baby scorpions and smaller scorpions require more venom to take down a predator, so they will release more poisonous venom rather than relying on their pincers, the way a larger scorpion would. Young scorpions haven't yet learned how to control the amount of venom they release, but with maturity they will learn how to release only what is necessary.

Location

• Scorpion size also varies depending on the species' geological region. Some of the smaller (and more deadly) scorpions, such as the red scorpion, live in desert climates such as Arizona. Some of the larger scorpions live in subtropical regions of the world.