How Long Is a Scorpion?

Worldwide, scorpion species range in sizes from 9 mm to 21 cm long, including the tail. The most common Texan variety, the striped bark scorpion, grows up to 6.3 cm long. However, almost all scorpions have the same general appearance.

When young scorpions are born, they are carried on the mother’s back until they have completed their first molt. The young scorpions, or nymphs, depend on their mother for survival and protection from other predators.

Young scorpions bear a resemblance to their parents. They complete their transformation into adults by shedding their exoskeleton (their growth is practically measured by how many molting stages they have undergone). The new exoskeleton is soft, making it defenseless against attack. The scorpion with the new exoskeleton has to wait for the new exoskeleton to harden.

Scorpions are nocturnal. They hide in relatively cool underground holes, in the bark of trees, or beneath logs and rocks. They only come out at night to feed. They can be opportunistic; especially when they find prey such as small arthropods such as insects. They use their venomous stings to paralyze or kill the victim. Scorpions can only digest food in a liquid form, so any solid matter is usually filtered out.

These creatures can be found in tropical and subtropical areas. They also exist in some rainforests, open plains, sandy deserts and savannahs.