Newly identified scorpion species ‘spits’ venom to defend itself

A Colombian scorpion that is new to science can spray venom from its stinger to hit something up to 35 centimetres away rather than always having to inject it. The tactic is thought to be a way of defending against would-be predators.

It isn’t known what effect the venom has when it gets into an animal’s eye, mouth or nose, says Léo Laborieux, who made the discovery while at Harvard University.…