Scorpions are viviparous. The young are born one by one and are carried on the mother's back until they have undergone one moult.
Before the first moult, scorplings cannot survive naturally without the mother, depending on her for protection and to regulate their moisture levels. The size of the litter depends on the species and can range from three to more than 100 scorplings.
The young resemble their parents in a general way. Growth is accomplished by periodical shedding of the exoskeleton.
A scorpion's developmental progress is measured in instars (how many moults it has undergone). In general, scorpions need five to seven moults to reach maturity.
Scorpions have very variable lifespans and the actual lifespan of most species is not known; however, the range is approximately 4-25 years.
