GTMO Scorpions are ancient arachnids (related to spiders) and fossil records show they existed over 400 million years ago. They occur in habitats ranging from forest to desert but they are more common in arid desert environments.

There are at least eight different species of scorpion potentially occurring at GTMO. Six of these are in the genus Centruroides, which translates from Latin to "A sharp ended tail-like."

Scorpions are predatory and use their venom to capture and kill prey. Scorpions hunt actively by searching for prey and sometimes ambush prey that wanders near their lairs. When the victim is close enough, the scorpion makes a mad dash and captures its prey with powerful front claws called chelae. It then injects the venom and holds on to the prey until it dies. Once dead, the victim is eaten headfirst.

Prey items include insects, centipedes, millipedes, snails, spiders and reptiles. Of the eight species mentioned above that potentially occur at GTMO, all are thick tailed but none are considered medically important as a threat to humans. Nevertheless, those deemed lucky enough to be stung by this little pain in the ass, generally exhibit swelling within immediate vicinity of sting and claim it hurts like Hell...

So much for the "none are considered medically important" theory...