From ancient times, scorpions have intrigued humans. Their hardy exterior, many legs and deadly reputation has them firmly regarded as one of the most well-known arthropods throughout the ages. Even in Ancient Egypt, we find stories of Serqet, the scorpion goddess of magic. She was both a protective goddess and a dangerous one. She could punish with the venom of a scorpion or snake, causing breathlessness and death, or she could protect against the same venom.
Yet just as she could kill, she was thought to give breath to the justified dead, helping them be reborn in the afterlife.
Throughout history scorpions and their venom have proved a mythical yet remedial substance all in one. More recent research has been slow going but the potential to utilise this precious venom one day to cure lupus and rheumatoid arthritis is being studied. It has already been explored to help with some cases of multiple sclerosis and cancer, and even with heart transplants.
The venom contains a mixture of biological chemicals called peptides, some of which are known to trigger cell death by forming pores in biological membranes. Cell death can be useful if we are able to target, say, tumour cells to auto-destruct.
These toxins can have very potent effects. For instance, one particular small peptide, known as TsAP-1, isolated from the Brazilian yellow scorpion (Tityus serrulatus), has both anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties. However, this does not come without problems as these toxins kill both tumours and healthy cells. One method to control such toxicity is through using nanotechnology to build specially made drug-delivery vehicles. If successful, the toxic drug is released to kill only unwanted tissues in a body.
Looking a little closer to home, much research has been done on our own venomous scorpions, and in particular, the Transvaal tick-tailed scorpion (Parabuthus transvaalicus). This scorpion has proven really interesting as it has two different ‘types’ of venom, one seemingly used for mammal deterrent and small prey, and the other more potent yet complex venom for ‘in case of emergency
Scorpion Venom
-Scorpions give birth to live young
Scorpion Venom:Unlike insects, which generally deposit eggs outside their bodies, scorpions produce live babies, a practice known as viviparity. Some scorpions develop within a membrane, where they receive nourishment both from a yolk and from their mothers. Others develop without a membrane and receive nourishment directly from their mothers. The gestational stage can be as short as two months, or as long as 18 months, depending on the species. After birth, the newborn scorpions ride on their mother’s back, where they remain protected until they molt for the first time. After this, they disperse
-Scorpions have long lifespans
Scorpion venom: Most arthropods have relatively brief lives compared to other animals. Many insects live just weeks or months. Mayflies last just a few days. But scorpions are among the arthropods with the longest lifespans. In the wild, scorpions typically live from 2-10 years. In captivity, scorpions have lived as long as 25 years
-Scorpions are ancient organisms
Were you able to travel back in time 300 million years, you would encounter scorpions that look remarkably similar to their descendants living today. Fossil evidence shows that scorpions have remained largely unchanged since the Carboniferous period. The first scorpion ancestors likely lived in the seas, and may even have had gills. By the Silurian period, 420 million years ago, some of these creatures had made their way onto land. Early scorpions may have had compound eyes
-Scorpions can survive just about anything
Arthropods have lived on land for over 400 million years. Modern scorpions can live as long as 25 years. That’s no accident. Scorpions are champions of survival. A scorpion can live for a full year without food. Because they have book lungs (like horseshoe crabs), they can stay submerged underwater for up to 48 hours and survive. Scorpions live in harsh, dry environments, but they can live on only the moisture they obtain from their food. They have extremely low metabolic rates and require only a tenth of the oxygen of most insects.
-Scorpions are arachnids
Scorpions are arthropods that belong to the Class Arachnida, the arachnids. The arachnids include spiders, harvestmen, ticks and mites, and all manner of scorpion-like creatures that aren’t really scorpions: whipscorpions, pseudoscorpions, and windscorpions. Like their arachnid cousins, scorpions have two body parts (cephalothorax and abdomen) and four pairs of legs. Although scorpions share anatomical similarities with all of the other arachnids, scientists who study their evolution believe they are most closely related to harvestmen (Opiliones).
-Scorpions dance before mating
Scorpion Venom:Scorpions engage in an elaborate courtship ritual, known as the promenade à deux (literally, a walk for two). The dance begins when the male and female make contact. The male takes his partner by her pedipalps and gracefully walks her back and forth until he finds a proper location for his spermatophore. Once he deposits his package of sperm, he leads the female over it and positions her genital opening so she can take up the sperm. In the wild, the male usually makes a quick departure once mating is completed. In captivity, the female often devours her mate, having worked up an appetite from all the dancing.
Scorpion Venom
