The death stalker scorpion, as its name implies, hides under stones and natural burrows in the dark of the desert night and waits for a victim to go by. Then it strikes, grabbing a cricket or an earthworm or some other unfortunate critter with its claws. If the victim squirms too much or puts up a fight, the death stalker stings it with a quick stroke of its tail, delivering a toxic cocktail and swift death.
The death stalker scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus) is an aggressive and jumpy desert dweller-its habitat ranges from the Middle East to North Africa — but not a particularly remarkable member of its species. It grows to about five inches in length and its color varies according to where it lives.
To read on, see this issue's cover story.
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