Scorpion
Order Scorpiones
The "Electric" Glow
This is their most famous trait. All scorpions glow a brilliant neon blue-green under UV light. This is caused by a chemical called beta-carboline in their exoskeleton. Even fossilized scorpions from millions of years ago still glow!
Ancient Survivors
Scorpions have been around for over 430 million years. Some early scorpions lived in water, and a few grew nearly a metre long.
Low-Power Mode
A scorpion can survive for a whole year without eating a single meal. They can slow their metabolism so much that they barely use any oxygen. They are incredibly tough. It is often said that a scorpion can survive two days under water, though no study confirms the figure. Unlike most "bugs" that lay eggs, scorpions give birth to live babies.
Field notes
| Range | Found on all continents except Antarctica |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | 2 to 25 years |
| Size | 1 cm to 23 cm (0.4 to 9 inches) |
| Weight | 10 g to 60 g for giant tropical species |
| Colour | UV-Fluorescent |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Family | Approximately 2,500 described species |
In the book
The Scorpion is number 73 of the 101 creatures in Glowing Bugs. Its two pages show it from three sides, at its true size, with a map of where it lives. The plate is an artistic interpretation and does not show the true colours of the living animal.
