Heavy metal predators: Scorpions are reinforced with metal

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-04-29 09:01

Australia; QLD

Photo by Andrey Tikhonovskiy on Unsplash

Scorpions don't just sound like a heavy metal band; they actually use heavy metals like zinc, manganese, and iron embedded in their anatomy to reinforce their venomous stingers and crushing claws, according to Australian research. The researchers found that the metallic fingerprints vary by species, suggesting their hardware may have evolved for specific hunting or defensive needs. Whether relying on the brute force of metal-toughened pincers or a more hardened, precise sting, these ancient predators use heavy metals to remain permanent fixtures of the natural world, the authors say.

News release

From: The Royal Society

Heavy Metal Predators: Diverse Elemental Enrichment Across the Weapons of Scorpions
Journal of the Royal Society Interface
For 400 million years, scorpions have relied on a "dual-weapon" system: venomous stingers and crushing claws. Our research reveals these tools are reinforced with specialised metals. By analysing different species, we found distinct concentrations of Zinc, Manganese, and Iron embedded in their anatomy. These metallic fingerprints vary by species, suggesting their hardware may have evolved for specific hunting or defensive needs. Whether relying on the brute force of metal-toughened pincers or a more hardened, precise sting, these ancient predators use heavy metals to remain permanent fixtures of the natural world

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Journal/
conference: Journal of the Royal Society Interface

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: The University of Queensland

Funder: S.I.D.C. was funded by an SIFP (Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Programme) grant to conduct this work, alongside a UQ research training stipend and tuition fee offset

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