Diversity and ecology of scorpions: Evolutionary success through venom

Abstract

The scorpions are lowly evolved but highly successful group of animals. This success is discussed with relation to size, morphological diversity, efficient utility of primitive sense organs, efficient foraging, feeding and digestion system as well as life history strategies of utilizing venom for defense and offence, parthenogenesis and increase in instars. In fact their life history strategies are unique and adaptive to warm, arid and semiarid conditions. Research on scorpions in India is two fold: Discovery and identification of new species, and Metabolic studies and Physiological adaptations including rhythmicity. The chapter after giving a brief classification of the order highlights the biology, the survival strategies and the epidemiology of scorpion venom and also an account of species diversity and distribution across the world. Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Panama, the Amazonian Andes, Mexico, Iran, India, South Africa and the USA have maximum density and diversity of scorpions with high degree of endemism in Mexico, Iran, India and Brazil. However, all over the habitats of scorpions in developing countries, development works have a serious impact on both density and species composition.