Scorpions belong to the arachnid group (invertebrates with four
pairs of legs and two body parts) along with such animals as
spiders, ticks and mites. They are distinguished from other
arachnids because they possess a large pair of pincers and a
tail with a venomous sting on the tip. They are a very primitive
group that has existed with the same basic body plan for some
450 million years. Scorpion, Urodacus sp.Photographer: Alan
Henderson. Source: Museum Victoria Some of the interesting
biological features of scorpions include: This latter factor is
one of the reasons why scorpions have survived for such a long
time – they spend most of their lives resting under rocks,
pieces of wood, or in burrows and expend very little energy.
This results is the need for only occasional meals. World-wide
there are 1500 known species of scorpions. Australia has about
80 species (although many have yet to be named scientifically),
and Victoria has nine known species. They are widely
distributed. Many people are under the imp