The world's most lethal scorpion, the deathstalker, has been caught on high-speed camera for the first time lashing out with its stinger, according to scientists.

A comparison of half-a-dozen scorpion species shown in ultra-slow motion revealed an unsuspected variety of strike modes.

The deathstalker had the fastest lunge of all, with its venomous stinger snapping over its head like a whip at 130 centimetres (51 inches) per second.