Distribution and abundance
In addition to desert habitats, scorpions have adapted to temperate, subtropical, and tropical environments such as grasslands, savannas, and forests. They live on all major landmasses except Greenland and Antarctica. Their range extends from Canada and central Europe to the southern tips of South America (Tierra del Fuego) and Africa, and they have been accidently introduced into New Zealand and England. Scorpions have been found at elevations from sea level to 5,000 metres (more than 16,000 feet) in mountains of Europe and North and South America. A few species live as far north as southern Canada, southern Germany, and Russia.
Where Do Scorpions Live?
most scorpions prefer deserts and semi-arid regions.Most scorpions hide under logs, rocks, boards and clutter. Some, such as the bark scorpion, rest on vertical surfaces like trees, bushes and walls.
Ecology and habitats
Scorpions are largely nocturnal and hide during the day in the confines of their burrows, in natural cracks, or under rocks and bark. Individuals become active after darkness has fallen and cease activity sometime before dawn. Because scorpions fluoresce under ultraviolet light, biologists can study their natural behaviour and ecology by using portable camping lights equipped with ultraviolet (black-light) bulbs. On a moonless night, scorpions can be seen at distances of 10 metres (33 feet).
Habitat
Homebodies. Scorpions live over 90% of their lives hidden wherever they take up shelter. They hide in burrows and under rocks, logs or debris, avoiding realtors at all costs. Indoors, scorpions can live in crawl spaces or attics, if temperatures stay below 100 degrees F (38 degrees C).
Scorpions are arachnids and have eight legs like their cousins – spiders, mites and ticks. They look a bit like small lobsters, equipped with a pair of pincers and a thin, segmented tail that curves over their back. These cool critters can be found on every continent around the world, except Antarctica, but they’re most common in deserts and areas of hot, dry lands.
Fearsome predators, scorpions have an impressive method for catching their grub. When hungry, a scorpion will quickly grab its prey with its pincers, and then whip its telson – the poisonous tip of their tail – forward to sting and kill the doomed victim. Ouch! These awesome arachnids typically eat insects (although some eat spiders, lizards and small rodents, too), and each species has a special type of venom that works well against the chosen prey.
