Scorpions have eight legs.

Quick Scoop: How Many Legs Does a Scorpion Have?

Scorpions are arachnids, which means they follow the same “body plan” as spiders and most other arachnids: eight walking legs attached to the front body segment (the cephalothorax).

On top of those eight legs, they also have:

  • 2 large pincers (called pedipalps) used for grabbing prey and defense, not for walking.
  • A long, segmented tail ending in a venomous stinger.

So if you’re counting only true legs:

  • A scorpion has 8 legs.
  • Plus 2 pincers (often mistaken for legs, but technically not legs).

If you ever thought scorpions had 6 legs “like insects,” you’re not alone—many people mix them up, but insects have 6 legs, while scorpions (and spiders) have 8.

Fast facts

  • Scorpions = arachnids with eight legs.
  • Pincers = modified appendages (pedipalps), not counted as legs.
  • Found on every continent except Antarctica.

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Wondering how many legs a scorpion has? Learn why scorpions have eight legs, how they differ from insects, and why their pincers don’t count as legs in this quick explainer. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.