Difference between scorpion and scorpion

As we have already explained, scorpion and scorpion are the same, it is the same animal , however, depending on the area in which we are, it will be more common to refer to it as scorpion or scorpion. Despite this, there are still people who believe that their difference is in whether they have poison or not, or if the poison is more or less powerful. The reality is that this is not the case, any of the different types of scorpions or scorpions can be called interchangeably with both names.

But what are scorpions or scorpions ? It is an order within the arthropods, specifically the arachnids. They have two pincer-shaped appendages, called pedipalps, and their most popular feature is their tail crowned with a stinger with which they can inject venom. Throughout the globe we can find about 1500 species of scorpions, some small that do not reach the centimeter and others that can grow up to 21 centimeters.

They generally tend to live in rocky or sandy areas , preferably in desert or tropical areas. However, there are some species that can live in caves or climb trees. They like to inhabit areas where there is not much light or noise, nor do they like the presence of humans, however, some types do have a preference for areas where humans live, since they take advantage of the heat and the great presence of insects.

Precisely, insects are part of the base of their diet , they also eat spiders , lizards and even other scorpions. Some types of scorpions are even capable of eating small mammals like mice. Regardless of this being their diet, the reality is that scorpions can go months without eating and survive, however, water is completely essential.

Although there is a lot of myth about the poison and its deadly capacity, the reality is that for humans only a few types of scorpions out of the around 1500 that exist are dangerous for humans . Although it is not something scientific nor should it be taken as an exact reference, most poisonous scorpions are usually light colors, white, beige or yellow, while black or brown are not usually poisonous.

Now that we have explained that scorpion and scorpion are the same, it is time to answer other questions such as why in some places it is called one way and in other places another or in which places it is called scorpion and in which places it is called scorpion. Scorpion vs Scorpion , what is this animal called in each place? :

Scorpion

Alacrán is the word mostly used in southern Mexico to refer to these arachnids. However, in the north it is not so common. In that area, when scorpion is used it is to speak of those that are poisonous, while scorpion is reserved for those that are not. In Spain, the word scorpion is considered somewhat old and, little by little, it has been falling into disuse. However, you should know that in many areas of this country the scorpion is not the animal we are talking about in this article, but it is a kind of cricket . On the other hand, in some countryside areas in Spain the word scorpion is used to refer to small scorpions .

Scorpion

In Mexico, people usually talk about scorpions, especially in the north . This is probably due to its proximity to the United States. Since in English the word to describe this animal is scoprion , nearby populations have adapted the variant in Spanish scorpion. As we have already said, in these areas it is possible to speak of scorpion to refer to those poisonous, while the scorpion is reserved for the non-poisonous , most of them. In the case of Spain, scorpion is the most used and popular word . However, in certain areas they reserve the word scorpion to speak of those of greater size while scorpion is used for the smallest.

There are many factors that can influence the consequences of a scorpion sting, factors that can make it a small annoyance or something serious. Here we explain the characteristics of the scorpion sting :

• Scorpion type : As we have already explained, only a small number of scorpions are poisonous to humans. That is why depending on the species that bites us it will be more or less dangerous.
• Scorpion size : the larger the scorpion, the larger its gallbladder, so the more venom it can store. On the other hand, adult scorpions have a more powerful size. Usually, that of females is also more powerful.
• Poison Amount : Scorpions typically inject a small amount of venom and don’t discharge all of it. Although when they walk on a person they can sting repeatedly. Depending on the amount of poison it will be more or less dangerous.
• How you inject the poison : if it stings directly into the skin, it will inject more poison than if there is clothing in between.
• Health status : adults are more resistant than children or the elderly. That is why most of the fatal bites are in victims who belong to these last two groups.
• Poison sensitivity : not everyone is equally resistant to scorpion venom. There are some people who have a natural resistance, while other people have a lot of sensitivity and it can cause great complications.

As we just explained, not all scorpion stings are the same, therefore, not all are going to have the same symptoms. However, in the event that a dangerous scorpion does sting, it is important to know what its manifestations are in order to act in time. Below we explain the symptoms of a scorpion sting in the order in which they usually appear from least to greatest severity:

• Pain and burning in the area of ​​the bite.
• Swelling in the area.
• Discoloration of the area.
• Drowsiness.
• Numbness.
• Blood pressure rises.
• Profuse sweating and salivation.
• Pallor.
• Contractions of the fingers and toes.
• Tingling in the face and throat.
• Difficulty swallowing and speaking.
• Abdominal spasms and vomiting
• Clumsy hand and foot movements.
• Mental disorders such as hallucinations or crossing the eyes.
• Total or partial paralysis.
• The temperature rises to 40ºC.
• Internal bleeding, affecting the pancreas.
• Heart affections.
• Fast and weak breathing.

Finally, if it is not treated and the symptoms get worse, the person can end up dying from respiratory paralysis.

If someone is bitten by a poisonous scorpion or scorpion, act quickly by making a tourniquet in that place to isolate the poison. This tourniquet must be loosened every so often , 20 minutes is fine, so as not to impede blood and lymphatic circulation.

Later an incision should be made as soon as possible. This must be done with a scalpel or other very sharp device, so that the venom can be extracted . Although there are people who do it with their mouth, this should never be done, since only if there were some cavities or injuries in the oral cavity, the venom of the scorpion could end up inside the body of the other person. Currently there are devices designed for that, so the venom can be sucked safely.

That is why before the scorpion sting, if possible, you should go to the doctor as soon as possible so that they can act with the appropriate material. On the other hand, a trained doctor will know whether to apply anti-scorpion serum or not , and there they can control vital signs and prevent complications.

In general, someone who has been bitten by a deadly scorpion and does not receive any type of treatment can die before reaching 24 hours , however, in some cases in which the person is hypersensitive they can die shortly after the hour in which he was stung.

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