Scorpions Defend Themselves with Strongest Means Available

A new study of numerous scorpion species reveals that the arachnids will typically defend themselves with the most powerful option available -- either their sharp pincers or their venomous stinger -- depending on which is strongest.

Researchers from CIBO, Portugal's Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, published their findings in the journal PLOS One.

Lead researcher Arie van der Meijden said that scorpions can use their pincers, stinger or both when defending themselves from a predator's attack. The research team sought to investigate why some scorpions defend with pincers while others rely on the stinger.

At the beginning of the research it was not clear whether the defensive choice made by the scorpion was a behavioral response or a manifestation that correlated with maximum performance ability.

To investigate, the researchers collected several species of scorpion and compared their defensive behavioral responses. The team took measurements of pincer strength and venom potency in the various species, as well as the physical characteristics of the individual scorpions.

They learned that pincer force and venom strength were highly variable among species, but the power of the defense mechanism did correlate with its physical features. For example, the large pincers on some species were attributed with higher pincer force than the smaller pincers of other species.

The researchers determined that scorpions will commonly use their strongest option when forced to defend itself.

"We found clear relationships between shape, performance, and behavior, even when taking their evolutionary history into account," van der Meijden said. "When it comes to defense, it seems scorpions choose their best weapons."

"I managed to not even get stung once during this research," he added.