Spider vs Scorpion: Two Arachnids Compared in 3D
Spiders and scorpions are both arachnids, not insects: they have eight legs and no antennae. A spider bites with fangs and spins silk. A scorpion grabs with big pincers and stings with the tip of its tail.
Spider vs scorpion: true size
Spider vs scorpion at a glance
| Spider | Scorpion | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | A large tarantula has a leg span of about 12 to 15 cm | Large scorpions reach about 15 to 20 cm |
| Body parts | Two: a front part and a round abdomen | A front part, a wide body and a long segmented tail |
| Legs | Eight | Eight, plus a pair of pincers |
| Weapon | Fangs that inject venom | A sting at the tip of the tail |
| Silk | Yes, from spinnerets | No |
| Known species | About 50,000 | About 2,500 |
| Young | Hatch from eggs, often in a silk sac | Born live, then ride on the mother’s back |
| Danger to people | Most bites are harmless; a few spiders are dangerous | Most stings are like a wasp sting; a few dozen species are dangerous |
Same family, different tools
Both are hunters that use venom, but they deliver it in different ways. A spider grabs prey with its legs and bites with two hollow fangs. A scorpion grabs prey with its pincers and, if it needs to, swings its tail over its back to sting. Many scorpions with big strong pincers rarely use the sting at all.
Silk vs armour
Spiders are the silk experts. They use it for webs, egg sacs, safety lines and even to float on the wind. Scorpions make no silk at all, but they have a tough outer shell and some can survive for months without food.
Quick facts
- Scorpions glow blue-green under ultraviolet light.
- Spiders have up to eight eyes; most scorpions have two to twelve.
- Tarantulas can flick tiny itchy hairs from their abdomen to defend themselves.
- Scorpions have lived on Earth for more than 400 million years.
- Mites, ticks and harvestmen are arachnids too.
Look inside both
Spider vs scorpion questions
Are spiders and scorpions related?
Yes. Both are arachnids: animals with eight legs, two main body regions and no antennae.
Is a scorpion an insect?
No. Insects have six legs and antennae. Scorpions have eight legs and no antennae, so they are arachnids.
Which is more dangerous, a spider or a scorpion?
For most species, neither is dangerous to healthy adults. A small number of spiders and a few dozen scorpion species have venom strong enough to need medical help.
Do scorpions make silk?
No. Only spiders make silk among the arachnids, apart from some mites.
Why do scorpions glow?
Chemicals in the outer layer of their shell glow under ultraviolet light. Scientists are still not sure what it is for.
More face-offs: see all 3D comparisons.
The 3D Bug Anatomy simulator is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up.