is my scorpion blind?

[ketx]

I use to turn on my light in my room at night for working but my scorpion seems doesnt care about the light shine him. He would stay in his hide during the day and he come out during the night when my room gets dark but he rather stay out from his hide even when I turn my light on in my room during the night. is it possible that he is exploring environment since i had him for a week or so? or is he blind? I have two scorpions and other one sprint away from the light as soon as I turn my light on in my room. its just weird. I heard scorpion should be sensitive to the light.

 

[The Snailkeeper]

Most scorpions are mostly blind even if they are sensitive to light. I don't really know why your scorpion would be less sensitive to light, however. I think it could just be that specific individual since I've owned some nocturnal inverts that have been active in the daylight or just light after warming up to their surroundings. He is probably exploring his environment regardless, however.

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

All scorpions are negative phototactic but individuals can have higher tolerance than other individuals. Then there is the Parabuthus villosus one of the rare diurnal species that will actively forage during the day too. Also, some individuals in captivity can grow more accustomed and comfortable with light sources and others never do.

 

[The Snark]

negative phototactic

And humans holding all animals visual capability to their highly limited visible light spectrum - which if it is given some thought is naive and a little ridiculous. Many nocturnal predators utilize the IR spectrum to varying degrees. A world in which the limited visible light spectrum of humans is mostly useless. Essentially, the humans are the ones that are 'blind'.

Visible light for humans, 380 to 720 nm. about 340 nm span. IR spectrum useful for night predators, 800 to 1800 nm. 1000 nm span. Additionally, visible light uses contrasting in order to differentiate - shapes and shadows where an object can become invisible in poor lighting. IR doesn't use or need the comparison anywhere near as much. The reason why common motion detectors found everywhere almost universally use IR.

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

And humans holding all animals visual capability to their highly limited visible light spectrum - which if it is given some thought is naive and a little ridiculous. Many nocturnal predators utilize the IR spectrum to varying degrees. A world in which the limited visible light spectrum of humans is mostly useless. Essentially, the humans are the ones that are 'blind'.

Visible light for humans, 380 to 720 nm. about 340 nm span. IR spectrum useful for night predators, 800 to 1800 nm. 1000 nm span. Additionally, visible light uses contrasting in order to differentiate - shapes and shadows where an object can become invisible in poor lighting. IR doesn't use or need the comparison anywhere near as much. The reason why common motion detectors found everywhere almost universally use IR.

Scorpions have very poor eyesight but they are highly sensitive to changes in light therefore their common observable negative phototactic behavior in captivity. However, captive individuals can be become more accustomed and comfortable in spite of the changes in light and other captive individuals never do.

Scorpions + light = instinctual automatic kneejerk reaction - "Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!"

 

[The Snark]

One aspect of scorps being blind is extremely little eyesight is required for prey detection in the IR spectrum. As example, a motion detector that can sense movement up to 10 feet away only requires a very small fraction of the energy emitted by one candle power in the visible light spectrum..

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

One aspect of scorps being blind is extremely little eyesight is required for prey detection in the IR spectrum. As example, a motion detector that can sense movement up to 10 feet away only requires a very small fraction of the energy emitted by one candle power in the visible light spectrum..

Scorpions "see" prey by vibration and air streams with highly sensitive mechanoreceptors. They "smell" prey with highly sensitive chemoreceptors.