The scorpions are large animals (40 to 170 mm) provided with a sting with venom in the tail. They have a pair of median eyes in the median part of the carapace and two rows of lateral eyes on the sides of the cephalic region, whose number varies between 0 and 5. Their sight is poor and the majority are nocturnal, hiding under stones during the day. The scorpions majority is typical from dry and hot climate. In Portugal there is only one species of scorpions: Buthus occitanus with 60mm.
The nuptial courtship is formed by a dance made by the two sexes and lasts hours or even days. The male produces a spermatophore of complex structure that contains the sperm and releases it when it penetrates in the genital operculum of the female. Once the spermatozoa is transferred to the female, the two animals leave each other. The fertilized eggs develop inside the female and the spiderlings, once born, go over their mother's abdomen until the first moult, when they disperse themselves.