ORDER

Scorpiones (Scorpions)

FAMILY

Ranidae (riparian frogs and true frogs)

HABITAT AND RANGE

Death stalker scorpions can be found (if one is foolhardy enough to look for one) in dry desert areas and dry scrublands in northern Africa and the Middle East.

IDENTIFICATION

Death stalker scorpions are very small often tan or reddish colored scorpions with small weak pincers. The stinger tip and pincer tips can be darker, almost black colored. Females are larger than males to accommodate reproductive tasks.

DIET

Scorpions use their venom to kill other animals. In the case of death stalkers, the animals they kill are their spider cousins, various insects including crickets, flies and moths. They may capture their prey with their pincers but in the case of death stalkers, the pincers are fairly weak so a sting must be administered quickly.

REPRODUCTION AND LIFESPAN

Death stalkers are ovoviviparous meaning they keep their eggs internally and after a year of development, females give birth to up to 30 live young. The young need to molt 7-10 times before they reach adulthood. Lifespan in the wild can be up to 5 years.

NOTES

The size of the pincers of a scorpion can be a good measure of the potency of its venom. Scorpions with large, powerful pincers have no need for powerful toxins. Scorpions with small, weak pincers need to have strong poisons to subdue their prey and ward off enemies. The death stalker scorpion has the strongest poison if any scorpion. If stung, a person will experience extreme pain, convulsions, paralysis and even death due to heart and respiratory failure.