Scorpions are arthropods, they have eight legs, two pedipalps, and a tail with a venom-injecting barb. Scorpions have two venom glands that produce venom used in hunting and self defense. Scorpions do not have bones instead they have an exoskeleton made of chitin, which is similar to the shell of a shrimp. Scorpions are found all across the world.
You could be asking “How many different types of scorpions are there?”
There are over 2,000 different species found on six of the seven continents. They prey on insects, arthropods and in some cases small vertebrates.
One of the next things we wanted the answer to was: what do scorpions eat in the wild?
Chief foods are small insects, spiders, centipedes, earthworms, and other scorpions. Once they capture their prey, they use their large pincers to crush and draw it toward the mouth so the prey’s body juices can be ingested.
You could be thinking “Why do scorpions break off their tails?”
The findings were published in PLOS ONE this week.
Can Scorpions regenerate their digestive system?
However, the lost parts can’t regenerate, and the scorpion is permanently without the posterior part of its digestive system and the ability to inject venom by stinging. As a result, it no longer defecates and can only capture small prey (like 5-milimeter crickets) using their mouthparts.
Except scorpion tails don’t grow back. Instead, these horrific animals get filled with poo. So, when a scorpion performs autotomy, it leaves the final bits of its digestive tract writhing on the ground. And since the tail never grows back, that scorpion can never defecate again.
What happens when a Scorpion performs autotomy?
So, when a scorpion performs autotomy, it leaves the final bits of its digestive tract writhing on the ground. And since the tail never grows back, that scorpion can never defecate again. Mattoni could actually see their abdomens swelling up thanks to the build-up of poo.
The gut extends all the way through the tail and opens up at the back of the fifth segment, just before the bit with the sting. So, when a scorpion performs autotomy, it leaves the final bits of its digestive tract writhing on the ground. And since the tail never grows back, that scorpion can never defecate again.