The scorpion is a predatory arachnid with eight legs, two distinctive grasping claw-like pincers, and a segmented tail ending in a venomous stinger that curves up and back over its body. There are approximately 1,750 different species with only about 25 of them known to be capable of killing a human being. For all others, the sting is painful but usually harmless, although medical attention should be sought for the elderly and small children. The scorpion is found in all major land masses except for Antarctica.