Deathstalker Scorpion
Science Project on Arthropods
By
Braden Benner, 6A
October 8, 2014
The Deathstalker Scorpion
Characteristics

Color


Number of Legs


There are 4 legs on each side and 2 pinchers.
Number of Body Parts


The back of the body is black, the arms and legs are pale yellow, the color
appears strange because it looks like a plastic toy. Color may be different
depending on where it lives.
3 – the head, abdomen and tail.
Color of Eyes

8 – two on the top of the head and 3 on each side. All eyes are black, their
vision is poor so the use vibrations and sense of smell.
Where Does it Live?

The Deathstalker Scorpion lives in the Middle East (Israel, Iraq, etc.) and
North Africa. They are also found in Ethiopia, Egypt, and Algeria. They adapt
very easy to changes that take place in their environment.

Deathstalker Scorpions need high levels of humidity and a temperature that is
at least 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit).

They are hard to keep in captivity because they are sensitive to being too dry
or too cold for them. It is illegal to keep them as pets in some places because
they are so lethal.
How Does it Protect Itself?

A Deathstalker Scorpion has two very large pinchers that are not very strong.
They use the pinchers to hold it prey and then sting it quickly with the stinger
on the end of the tail.
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These scorpions are very aggressive and their venom can kill a human.

They can also camouflage themselves in their natural habitat.
How Does it Get Food? What Does it Eat?

The Deathstalker scorpion grabs its prey with their pinchers and sting them
quickly. In their natural habitat they feed mainly on crickets, bugs and other
small rodents and lizards.
How Big is it? How Strong is it?

A female Deathstalker Scorpion can be 10cm or 4 inches in length.

A male Deathstalker Scorpion is smaller, 7.5 or 3 inches in length.

It has very large pinchers, but they are not strong, the venom is extremely
dangerous.

It is considered to be the second most dangerous creature behind only the
Marbled Cone Snail.
How Long Does It Live?

The Deathstalker scorpion can live between 2 and 6 years old.
How Does it Reproduce?
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The mating ritual is referred to as a dance which lasts a few minutes.

Then the female Deathstalker will decide if the male is a good mate.
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She has to have between 5 and 7 molts before being able to reproduce.

Molting is when she sheds her external shell to grow, length of time between molts
varies.

Two Deathstalker scorpions mate very similar to mammals.

Gestation time will range to be 4 - 6 months.

Baby scorpions are born and not hatched.

The female carries them on her back for about a month before the babies
molt and go off by themselves.

There can be 30 – 60 scorpions born at a time.
When Does it sleep? How long Does it
Sleep

Deathstalker scorpions do not actually sleep, but they lay resting under rocks
or other shelters.

Scorpions hibernate during cold months when they don’t sleep but their
metabolism slows down and they go into a dormant , they appear to be
sleeping or almost look dead.
Do We Humans eat my arthropod?

NO!!!!!!!!

But, scientific research has used the venom of the Deathstalker Scorpion as a
way too help find cancerous brain tumors. The toxin in the venom will
actually attack the cancer cells making it easy for doctors to find them during
surgery.
What is the COOLEST Thing I Learned
About my Arthropod?

Lots of things…….

The female will mate with a male and then kill him after for food.

They are the second most dangerous creature in the world behind the Marbled
Cone Snail.

The venom can kill an adult human, but can also be used to save their life by
finding cancer in the brain.
References
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http://abcnews.go.com/Health/scorpion-venom-fight-cancer-tumorpaint/story?id=21052527
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http://www.ratestogo.com/blog/most-dangerous-animals/
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathstalker
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http://www.scorpionworlds.com/deathstalker-scorpion/
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http://www.buzzle.com/articles/deathstalker-scorpion-facts.html
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http://www.techandinnovationdaily.com/2013/09/13/blaze-biosciencescorpion-venom-cancer/