Scorpions Are So Metal—Literally. New Images Reveal Patterns in How Their Weaponry Is Fortified With Iron, Zinc and Manganese
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F86%2F71%2F86717296-de0f-486d-a5db-0170eeb7f2c1%2Fbuthidae_1.jpeg&w=1024)
A new study reveals that scorpions fortify their stingers and pincers with metals like zinc, iron, and manganese in specific patterns. The distribution of these metals varies between species and suggests an evolutionary trade-off in weapon specialization. Advanced imaging techniques show that metal enrichment is localized to high-stress areas, such as the tips of stingers and toothlike claw structures.
- ▪Scorpions have metal-reinforced stingers and pincers containing zinc, iron, and manganese, concentrated in high-impact areas.
- ▪The study found that zinc is unevenly distributed between stingers and claws, indicating an evolutionary trade-off in weapon use.
- ▪Iron was found only in claws, manganese only in stingers, and zinc in both but typically enriched more in one weapon per species.
- ▪Some scorpion stingers show layered metal deposition, with manganese beneath zinc, resembling a 'layered popsicle.'
- ▪The research analyzed 18 scorpion species using high-resolution imaging techniques including X-ray analysis and electron microscopy.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Scorpions Are So Metal—Literally. New Images Reveal Patterns in How Their Weaponry Is Fortified With Iron, Zinc and Manganese Scientists knew the stingers and pincers of these arachnids generally contained metals, but a new Smithsonian-led study maps out how these components are distributed Carlyn Kranking | Associate Web Editor, Science April 28, 2026 ShareCopy linkEmailSMSFacebookXRedditLinkedInBlueskyPrintAdd as preferred source African fattail scorpion (Androctonus amoreuxi) Mohamed Mousaid, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) Scorpions have eight legs like a spider, claws like a lobster and an upward curling tail ending in a venomous spur like seemingly no other creature.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Smithsonian Magazine.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Smithsonian Magazine
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F03%2F1f%2F031f1c20-fb8c-45e8-964a-4ba82e2950d8%2Fs-014-c01_1.jpeg&w=320)
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F21%2F3e%2F213e6ee0-ae4b-403e-a75e-516653c10772%2Fgettyimages-139289970.jpg&w=320)
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F88%2F59%2F885977a1-c31a-42e2-8ac9-c39bebe9ded5%2Ferdos4.jpg&w=320)
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F27%2Faa%2F27aa2593-9660-43a6-844d-52af3a7fd996%2Fc69a7443_1.jpg&w=320)
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F3f%2F59%2F3f59f4a3-baa6-4e76-8ec1-d1f67bed20b5%2Felisenda.jpg&w=320)
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F21%2Fe0%2F21e01f01-f286-4f57-bc46-5d031b7f727f%2Fenterprise12.jpg&w=320)