Are Small Scorpions REALLY More DEADLY? 

the addage "the size of the tail indicates strength of sting" pales in comparison to "if you don't know, don't fucking touch"

Seems I’m the first comment!! Loved this one Jackson, this is a myth I’ve seen everywhere, and not many people are aware of scorpions being far “deadlier” than spiders. Where I live we get no scorpions unfortunately, though towards the mountains you can occasionally find the southern devil scorpion. I absolutely adore these finicky little critters, and the Hormurus you get in Australia are just absolutely adorable!! Thank you for clearing this up, and content like this where you clear up misconceptions is awesome btw!! As a suggestion you should definitely do one regarding all the hysteria surrounding solifugae… keep up the great work man!! I can tell you’re starting to really become motivated to do content, and it shows :)

I love your content. Keep it coming. I'm 47 y.o. I've lived in Victoria my whole life. I have spent the last 20 or so years unsuccessfully trying to train myself out of a fear of spiders. Intellectually, I'm fascinated by arachnids, but I have an uncontrolled, visceral negative reaction that I haven't been able to overcome. I would love to be able to pick up a huntsman and relocate it outside (I don't mind them inside, but the wife and kids freak out) but I can't get past my gut reaction.

🦂“A proper education is the ultimate key to a safe and peaceful coexistence” 🦂 So true!

I got stung by the scorpion you showed at 6.16 in ur video whilst camping. It stung me on the stomach as I rolled on it in my tent. It was more intense than a bee sting. I broke out in a heavy sweat and after a few seconds, a large raised welt appeared. I rubbed a general all-purpose sting lotion on it and after 15 minutes, the pain went away. The next day there was a small mark left. I released the unharmed offender outside of the tent...Lol

3,000 annual scorpion-related human fatalities is absolutely insane. That is, by far, the deadliest invertebrate that directly kills humans. It's nearly 500 times spiders. Which goes to show both just how terrifying scorpions are, and how overfeared spiders are.

Arachnids and Centipedes are two of my favorite classes of arthropods. Although they may not be as big or strong as apex predators like crocadilians, orcas, sharks, lions, or tigers, they are certainly the scariest.

we gonna ignore the fact that he just pet that huge huntsman in the beginning of the video ?

This is very interesting content! And just the first seconds, you’re a much braver person than I. I’m kinda glad I live on Long Island. Biggest spiders here aren’t much larger than your pinky nail. And zero scorpions.

Well done, Jackson, I love your alliterative skills.

Great video sir! A very interesting topic.

From a brief Google search, H. lepturus venom is mainly hemolytic and cytotoxic, and victims that died exhibited internal hemorrhaging. All other potentially deadly scorpions are predominantly neurotoxic. Maybe it explains the difference in morphology? I imagine it mainly still uses the pincers to capture prey.

I was taught that it's not the overall size of the scorpion that clues you in to how dangerous it is, but the size of the claws to the size of the sting instead. It goes like this: if the claws are big, but the tail is thin and the sting on it's tip quite small in comparison, it means that the scorpion relies on the crushing power of its claws to subdue its prey, and its venom isn't that strong. If the claws are small, and the tail thick and the sting quite big, it uses its venom to kill its prey, and so is potentially deadly to humans. Of course, this may not be 100% accurate. There are animals out there whose venom is designed to kill certain kinds of prey, and only by accident is lethal to us. It also depends on whether an animal is ready, willing and able to turn what is mostly a hunting tool on an inquisitive human, or not. Many would rather slip off, and save their venom, which is expensive for them to produce, for its proper purpose. Others seem all too happy to give annoying people a dose of poison as a sharp lesson... and then, it doesn't really matter how big or small the creature is!

Very interesting and helpful information. I live in the Northeast USA and have no natural scorpions, but I do have a few Tarantulas. I think I will still stay away from scorpions for now.

Thank you, Jackson. Interesting and informative, as always.

Hemiscorpius lepturus is also unique in another way that you didn't mention in this video. Most scorpions that have medically-significant venom belong in the family Buthidae. This includes Leiurus, Androctonus, Parabuthus, and Hottentotta. Hemiscorpius lepturus, despite also having medically-significant venom, isn't part of Buthidae, and instead belongs in Hemiscoriidae. This makes Hemiscorpius lepturus something of an anomaly among scorpions.

You have my respect just for pointing out how overstated the danger of Australian wildlife is. Personally I'm quite pleased that I can go camping and be certain I won't be mauled by a bear!

Scorpions are definitely the coolest (and scariest) arachnids. It's a shame that Australian import laws prevent you from keeping the awesome species we can keep here in the US. I love my little juvenile Pandinus imperator so much. I think people who believe the size of scorpions to be the be all/end all of venom potency would be surprised at how large an adult female deathstalker (Leirus quinquestriatus) can be. My rule of thumb is to stay away from any wild scorpion I can't identify; easy both because we don't really have any where I live and because I'm terrified of them.

I am wondering if this myth may originate from one also surrounding snakes. That being, a younger snake is more dangerous than an adult. This stems from the fact that young snakes lack the ability to properly regulate how much venom they are injecting in prey, so while the venom is less potent than an adult’s they are proportionally putting more in. Meanwhile an adult snake is more likely to put less venom in their bite or even none at all if it’s just a warning. I wonder if arachnids also have something similar and the “smaller” scorpion is actually referring to a young one verses an adult.

Hi. If you dont mind I ask you a few questions about arachnids biology. 1. Does scorpions, camel spiders, whip scorpions and tailless whip scorpions digest their prey outside their bodies by injecting digest enzyme same as spiders? 2. Can whip scorpions and tailless whip scorpions regenerate lost legs same way as spiders? They are kind of close relatives, as i know. 3. Chelicerae form of whip scorpions and tailles whip scorpions is fangs, like spiders? 4. What is the name of colored hairs on chelicerae o scorpions, whip scorpions and tailles ws? Usually there are yellow hairs on scorpions and red on whips. Thanks!

It triggers me everytime i see People perpetuate this Myth!!

3:53 is that a rock scorpion? I saw it on RU-vid before some guy kept it as a pet

Man Australian scorps are so underrated

Israeli Fat Tail scorpion was my favorite pet scorpion

Some are friendly as arachnids go others well Jackson you know mate

Amazing on more than one level.

Its unfortunate that until it hit my how much I care about arthropods (went a lot of my life loving them but only recently it hit me) I too fell for the pervasive myths of "in Australia" big nope. I think your videos are extremely important in dispelling the myths of various fauna and should honestly get way more views. Unfortunately, like people with wasps, theyre so set in their ways that they're resistant to counterpoints of their established view. I've heard biology is the study of exceptions, because its very, very difficult not to find exceptions to established "rules", rven when it's a scientifically backed rule. However, when saying moths for instance lack clubbed antennae as butterflies have it (many exceptions) this ultimately is far less harmful (at least in the direct sense) compared to venomous scorpions, where people should really just... Not assume. Anyway, please keep up the great work. I do love your narration style and love the mythbusting!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the main thing that correlates with the deadliness of a scorpions venom the size and bulkiness of its claws?

I got stung by a bark scorpion on my calf. Felt like a bee sting at first. Then, my entire leg was in intense pain that lasted about 16 hours.

Can you do a video on the evolutionary history on living members of Arthropods that are commonly referred to as bugs

It's always helpful to remember that nearly every rule-of-thumb has exceptions.

Scorpions are the most dangerous arachnids but not the most dangerous arthropods. We all know who it is. (Mosquito)

Scorps

Is Hottentotta hottentotta medically significant? 🦂

General rule of handling: don't grab, let them walk on your hand.

It's almost as if medical significance is related to venom potency and not size or body proportions...

That first scene is cursed😂

Please stop beating up on the poor funnel webs 😂

I've seen a documentary about people who DRY AND SMOKE scorpions... (pls don't recreate you might end up restarted)

sigma

If you told me this was read and written by a soulless AI I would believe you, no questions. If this was truly the work of a human, bro, throw out some more useful info than the latin names. Like, region/range/danger scale/ etc... ffs. This made me dumber.

Small pincers, thick tail = deadly Big pincers, thin tail = not deadly

the Arizona bark scorpion, the desert hairy scorpion, and the striped-tailed scorpion 🦂 do you think they could kill my cat. They luv killing em 😬 luv your info . 👈🏻🫶🏻