SCORPIONS 

Scorpions are in the family Arachnid along with tarantulas, spiders, ticks and mites. Like all Arachnids, scorpions have eight legs and two body parts but what sets them apart from other arachnids is the segmented tail that curves over that has a venom sack with a stinger on the end. The most notable is of course the pinchers which are used to capture and subdue prey.

The smallest scorpion is the Typhlochactas mitchelli found in Southeastern Mexico and is only 5/16 in. long, and the Heterometrus swammerdami or commonly called the Giant Forest Scorpion is found in Sri Lanka and India and can be 9 inches long.

Scorpions can be found on every continent except Antarctica and live in habitats such as deserts, rainforest, grasslands, and mountainous areas.

Scorpions are nocturnal, finding shelter during they daylight hours under rocks, logs or other ground debris and coming out only at night to hunt and feed.

They are opportunistic feeders, feeding on small insects. They use their pinchers to catch their prey then inject it with venom to kill or paralyze it.