Morphology of a scorpion, dorsal view

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morphology of a scorpion, ventral view. Note in particular the sternum, which is bounded by the tops of the legs and the operculum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relative characteristics of the most important families (note the features of the medically out standing Buthidae):

 

c	Shape of the sternum			Shape of the pincers
	triangular	pentagonal (sides parallel)	wide or divided	slender and smooth	massive, sometimes angular, sometimes rough surface
Buthidae	X	(only rarely)		X
Bothriuridae		X			X
Chactidae		X			X
Chaerilidae		X			X
Euscorpiidae		X			X
Iuridae & Caboctonidae		(only rarely)	X		X
Hemiscorpiidae		X			X
Scorpionidae		X			X
Vaejovidae		X			X