Hairy Scorpion

Hadrurus arizonensis

Meet the largest Scorpion in North America-- the Hairy Scorpion. These arachnids can grow over 5in long, and their large size makes them quite the predator within their desert habitat. They feed on smaller invertebrates (including other Scorpions) and will even hunt snakes, lizards, and small vertebrates as well.

Hairy Scorpions are named for the dark brown hairs that cover the backs of their otherwise yellow-ish bodies. Their coloration helps them to blend in with the dry environment that they live in. You'll find these Scorpions in the Mojave and Sonora Deserts.

The large pincers on these arachnids are used for more than just grasping at food. These guys are excellent burrowers, and can dig tunnels that are more than 2m in length. They hang out in them during the daytime, emerging at night to hunt.

Even though they are large in size, the Hairy Scorpions shouldn't frighten you. Their sting is venomous, but tends to be no worse than a beesting for the average person.

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IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : North America
Size : Length around 5.5in (14cm)

Classification : Phylum : Arthropoda -- Class : Arachnida -- Order : Scorpiones
Family : Caraboctonidae -- Genus : Hadrurus -- Species : H. arizonensis
Image :  Fritz Geller Grimm

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European Yellow-tailed Scorpion

Euscorpius flavicaudis

The European Yellow-tailed Scorpion is native to North Africa and Southern Europe. They have also been introduced to Great Britain and far off Uruguay. The colonies in the UK are the northernmost Scorpion colonies in the world!

This particular species is on the small side, as far as Scorpions go, though they are the largest in their genus. They typically top out at around 1.5in. They can be found in a whole mess of dry habitats, and are usually found living under stones and in various cracks and crevasses.

The Scorpions rarely leave their homes, but do so to mate during the summer months. Females will lay only one clutch each year, and will carry the juvenile scorpions on her back until they reach their first molt about a week after hatching. It will take two years for the young Scorpions to reach adulthood!

European Yellow-tailed Scorpions are ambush predators that patiently wait within their cracks, and then snatch up unsuspecting passerbys with their claws. They then consume their meals head first. Yum! Interestingly, they rarely use their stingers. Though they do have venom, it is weak and is not at all dangerous to healthy humans.

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IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : Europe, North Africa
Size : Length up to 1.7in (4.5cm)

Classification : Phylum : Arthropoda -- Class : Arachnida -- Order : Scorpiones
Family : Euscorpiidae -- Genus : Euscorpius -- Species : E. flavicaudis

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Fattail Scorpion

Fattail Scorpion

There are about eighteen species within the genus Androctonus. All of them can go by the common name of Fattail Scorpion. These arachnids live in the arid and semi-arid regions of Africa and the Middle East, and have venom that is strong enough to kill a human!

Fattail Scorpions get their name from the fact that "tail" is pretty thick, compared to those of other Scorpion types. Did you know that Scorpions do not eat solid food? They hunt insects, especially Crickets, and when they inject the venom their prey's insides turn to liquid, which the Scorpion then slurps up!

As previously mentioned, Fattail Scorpions are capable of killing people. One particular species, A. australis, is responsible for several deaths every year throughout their wide range, and has the highest number of deaths attributed to it overall among Scorpions. They often live near human habitation, and there is an anti-venom, but even those who receive fast treatment can experience lingering side-effects, including headaches and loss of feeling.

Interestingly, there are people who keep Fattail Scorpions as pets, but they are defiantly not recommend for beginners, due (obviously) to their dangerous and aggressive nature.

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IUCN Status : Not Listed

Location : Africa and the Middle East
Size : Length up to 4in (10cm)

Classification : Phylum : Arthropoda -- Class : Arachnida -- Order : Scorpiones
Family : Buthidae -- Genus : Androctonus 

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