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Scorpion
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Scorpion
Temporal range: Silurian–Recent
Asian forest scorpion in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Chelicerata
Class:
Arachnida
Subclass:
Dromopoda
Order:
Scorpiones
C. L. Koch, 1837
Superfamilies
Buthoidea
Chaeriloidea
Chactoidea
Iuroidea
Pseudochactoidea
Scorpionoidea
See classification for families.
Scorpions are predatory arthropod animals of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping claws and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger. Scorpions range in size from 9 mm (Typhlochactas mitchelli) to 21 cm (Hadogenes troglodytes).Scorpions are found widely distributed over all continents, except Antarctica, in a variety of terrestrial habitats except the high latitude tundra. Scorpions number about 1,752 described species, with 13 extant families recognised to date. The taxonomy has undergone changes and is likely to change further, as a number of genetic studies are bringing forth new information.Though the scorpion has a fearsome reputation as venomous, only about 25 species are known to have venom capable of killing a human being.
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