Content
- Scorpion Mating Rituals
- How often do scorpions mate?
- The fertilization of scorpions
- Are scorpions oviparous or viviparous?
- How many scorpions are born to a female?
- scorpion cub
At PeritoAnimal we now want to offer you useful information about the scorpiofauna, specifically about the scorpion reproduction - features and curiosities.
These striking and interesting arachnids that have existed for millions of years on the planet and of which more than two thousand species have been identified, have their own reproductive strategies which, like the rest of the animals, are intended to guarantee the perpetuity of the species. In this sense, scorpions have been very effective as they have been on Earth for so many years that they are considered prehistoric animals. Read on if you want to learn more about the reproductive characteristics of scorpions.
Scorpion Mating Rituals
How does the scorpion reproduce? Well, before fertilization takes place, the scorpion's reproduction starts with a complex cutting process, which can last up to several hours. Males try to convince the female to accept the mating and, for that, dance with their pincers with constant movements.
During the process, these individuals may try to use their stingers. However, the male must always be very cautious, as otherwise, at the end of copulation, the female can devour him, especially if there is food shortage in the region.
The courtship is similar in different types of scorpions, which is made up of multiple phases or steps that have been studied. On the other hand, males and females don't usually cohabit, that's why they separate after mating. Some studies show that there are females who enter a new courtship process, including offspring on top of their bodies.
How often do scorpions mate?
In general, scorpions reproduce more than once a year, having several reproductive episodes in this time, which guarantees its survival. However, the environmental conditions and the specific place where the mating takes place are very important for the scorpion reproduction to occur successfully.
According to some researches, there are females of different species of scorpions capable of giving birth several times from a single insemination.
The fertilization of scorpions
Male species of scorpions produce a structure or capsule called spermatophore, in which iffind the sperm. This is a common trait that invertebrates use to reproduce.
During the mating process, the male is the one who chooses the place where fertilization will take place, taking the female to the place he/she has detected as the most suitable. Once there, the male deposits the spermatophore on the ground. As long as you are attached to the female, she will be the one to decide whether to take the capsule and introduce it into her genital orifice. Only if this happens, will the fertilization.
The conditions of the place are important, so the male is careful when selecting it, as it depends on whether the spermatophore will remain ideal while resting on the substrate until taken by the female, so that the correct reproduction of the scorpion occurs.
Are scorpions oviparous or viviparous?
the scorpions are live animals, which means that after fertilization in the female, the development of the embryo takes place inside her, depending on the mother until the moment of birth. The offspring continue to depend on the mother after birth, as they will be on her body for several weeks. Once the offspring develop their first molt - the process of changing the type of skeleton - they will descend from the mother's body.Meanwhile, newborn scorpions will feed by sucking tissue from their mother in order to get the nutrients they need.
How many scorpions are born to a female?
The amount of offspring scorpions that a scorpion can vary from one species to another, it can be 20 but, on average, they can give birth up to 100 small scorpions. The offspring will continue to make successive changes in their bodies, which may be around five, at which point they will reach sexual maturity.
The gestation time of scorpions can last between two months and a year, depending on the species. On the other hand, species of scorpions were identified, such as the Tityus serrulatus, capable of reproducing through parthenogenesis, that is, the hand can develop an embryo without needing to be fertilized.
scorpion cub
Scorpions live an average of 3 to 4 years. THE from one year they can already reproduce.
And the cub scorpion, contrary to what many believe, is no more venomous than the adult scorpion.
Throughout 2020, various information circulated on the internet stating that the baby yellow scorpion is more lethal than its adult version, as it would have the ability to insert all its venom into just a sting, What is not true.
In an article published by the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo, the University of Zoology of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF) clarified that neither of these two animals, that is, neither the baby scorpion nor the adult, emit their venom with a sting and that, in fact, both are dangerous.[1]
In addition, an adult scorpion, being larger, has a higher venom supply than a cub scorpion.
If you want to read more articles similar to Scorpion Reproduction - Features and Trivia, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.