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Scorpions - Land Invertebrates

Family: ScorpionidaeEmperor ScorpionPandinus imperatorPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Russ Gurley

Throughout history, the scorpion has instilled curiosity, intrigue, and often fear!

You are not alone if you enjoy keeping scorpions. More and more people are coming to enjoy the novilty and intrigue offered by these unique pets. As interest in the keeping of invertebrates grows, the scorpion has taken its place as a source of pleasure, curiosity, and fascination. Their ease of maintenance and the excitement that they can evoke will no doubt keep them popular with invertebrate keepers worldwide.

Although these living fossils are considered primitive, they show some amazingly advanced adaptations including elaborate courtship behavior and maternal care of young.

     Most scorpions available as pets are not dangerous, though you need to handle them with care and respect. There are actually only 25 scorpions known to have venom capable of causing a human death.

For more Information on keeping Scorpions see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Invertebrate

Scorpions: Click on the small images below
for more information about each one.

Desert Hairy Scorpion	Emperor Scorpion
Hadrurus spadix	Pandinus imperator
Flat Rock Scorpion	Malaysian Forest Scorpion
Hadogenes troglodytes	Heterometrus spinifer
Striped Scorpion
Centruroides vittatus

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Scorpions in the Pet World: Throughout history, the scorpion has instilled curiosity, intrigue, and often fear. The ancient Egyptians revered the scorpion as a symbol of power and death. The ancient philosopher and naturalist Aristotle commented on the scorpion in great detail, even describing the uniqueness of its viviparity and commenting on the lethal and nonlethal species. Modern myths and stories about scorpions abound. In some African areas, it is felt by the indigenous people that to touch a scorpion changes a man into a woman or in some cases, causes instant death. Today, there are roughly 1500 recognized species of scorpions in the world of which some 25 species are dangerous to man. An estimated 1,000 people a year die from the stings of scorpions.

Availablility: Many varieties of these fascinating creatures are available in pet stores and from breeders. This is not surprising with the huge number of scorpions around the world.

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