Scorpions are unusual and interesting creatures. They appeared approximately 300 million years ago and practically did not undergo any changes. Living conditions on Earth changed, whole classes of animals changed dramatically, species disappeared, new ones sprang up, and scorpions, as well as turtles, even kept their way of life the same. This may indicate their perfection, since where the scorpion lives is not important, one condition is a warm and dry climate, it will adapt to the rest.
Origin
Confirmation of the invariance of scorpions are the prints of their bodies on solid rocks. The origin of scorpions, according to scientists, can be traced in the Silurian period of the Earth's development. Initially, representatives of this species lived in coastal waters, gradually mastering the land mode of life. Modern families and species of scorpions formed 100 million years ago.
This squad of arthropods is not well understood. Of the diversity of this community, 77 genera and 700 species are known. The variety of species depends on where the scorpion lives, in which natural zone. And you can really meet him everywhere, excluding areas of the Far North.
They feel at ease and in a temperate climate, and hot tropical, and subtropical zone. Representatives of this class lead an exclusively nocturnal lifestyle, hiding from the midday sun in crevices, under stones or burrowing in the sand. At night they crawl out of the hidden places where scorpions live to hunt.
Description
Scorpions belong to the class of arachnids, a group of arthropods. Their Latin name is Scorpiones. They look pretty impressive and scary. The cephalothorax wide in front has a slight narrowing downwards.
An elongated abdomen consisting of segments is attached to it. Nearby is a pair of rather frightening claws, the purpose of which is to capture prey. Near the mouth are rudimentary limbs that act as jaws (stinging).
Four pairs of legs are attached to the abdomen from below, which help to quickly move over the stones of mountainous territory, in the desert along quicksand, in any area, depending on where the scorpion lives.
The scorpion's belly is rather long and gradually tapers, forming a tail. It ends with a pear-shaped segment-capsule containing poison. At its end there is a sharp needle with which a scorpion kills its victim, poisoning it with its poison. The scorpion has practically no enemies, since its body is covered with a durable and reliable chitinous shell.
Eyes and colors
Scorpio sees very well, even at night. In the upper part of the cephalothorax, there are from 2 to 8 eyes. The largest are the middle eyes. The rest are in two groups near the front edge of the cephalothorax. These are the so-called side eyes.
From where the scorpion lives, in which zone, its color will depend. It can be gray, black, violet, yellow-sand, green, gray, colorless transparent and even orange. Everything will depend on the habitat. Consider some species of this representative arthropod.
Imperial
In the tropical part of Africa lives a giant and beauties - the imperial scorpion (Pandinus imperator). Its maximum length, including tail and claws, can exceed 20 cm. It has a surprisingly beautiful color - black with a greenish-brown tint.
He has quite strong, thick and rough claws, with their help the prey, which consists of large insects, sometimes small amphibians and mice, is firmly held. Lives in nature until 13 years old, lives in crevices of stones or under them, under the fallen bark of trees, sometimes in holes. It leads, like all representatives of this species, a nocturnal lifestyle.
Desert hairy
In most people, scorpions are associated with desert, highlands. It is in such arid places in southern California and the Arizona desert where the scorpion, called the "Desert Hairy" (Hadrurus arizonensis), lives. It has a contrasting color. His back is dark brown, claws are yellow-sand.
Scorpion's legs and tail are covered with hairs, which characterizes this species. Together with claws and tail, this individual can reach 18 cm. He waits for midday heat in a hole dug by him, or under stones. Their menu consists of beetles, cockroaches, small insects, moths.
Black thick-tailed
Another representative of the desert is called black androctonus (Androctonus crassicauda). It is found in large quantities in the United Arab Emirates. The places where the scorpion lives (you see a photo of it in the article) are located in deserts. Its dimensions can reach 12 cm. The color has all shades of black and not only. Some of its representatives can be green-olive, brown with a reddish tint and combined color.
He sometimes lives next to a man, hiding in the crevices of houses and fences, and also away from him, in dug minks. It feeds on large insects or small vertebral rodents. Its main difference is a large massive tail.
