Scorpions Of Lowveld

Identification & First Response Guide by Jonathan Leeming

These pages offer an identification guide and a first response guide aligned to the contents of the Essential Scorpion Sting First Response Book, In Person Course and Distance Learning Course. Use them as a reference in your time of need or download the Identification & First Response Guide to Scorpions Of The Lowveld Poster and share them with your organisation or local community. 

Chubbs Lessor Thick-Tail Scorpion

Chubb's Lessor Thick-Tail Scorpion

Chubb's Lessor Thick-Tail Scorpion (Uroplectes chubbi), is a small scorpion with an average length of about 35mm. Light-brown with either a pale stripe or alternating pale and dark pattern down the centre of the tergites, and a dark triangle on the carapace.

Common Lessor Thick-Tail Scorpion

The Common Lessor Thick-Tail Scorpion (Uroplectes carinatus), is a small scorpion with an average length between 25mm to 40mm. Overall coloration is variable thought out its wide range but generally orange-brown. Dark line on the middle of the tergites.

Eastern Lessor Thick-Tail Scorpion

The Eastern Lessor Thick-Tail Scorpion (Uroplectes vittatus), is a small scorpion with an average length between 40mm and 50mm. Light-brown with a pale stripe down the centre of the tergites. Last 2 tail segments are darker in colour. Characteristic dark triangle on the carapace.

Giant Rock Scorpion

The Giant Rock Scorpion (Hadogenes troglodytes), is the longest scorpion in Southern Africa attaining a length of 130mm to 150mm. Males have longer tails than females and attaining a length of 190mm. Found on rocky ridges and outcrops.

Jones's Lessor Creeping Scorpion

The Jones’s Lessor Creeping Scorpion is a medium sized scorpion, average 50mm to 60mm, attaining 70mm in some areas. Colouration rangers from overall black, to dark brown with slightly lighter legs.

Lowveld Creeping Scorpion

A large scorpion with an average length of 90mm to 100mm. Legs and sting are a lighter colour than the body. Pincers are smooth in texture. Found in rocky areas where they shelter between 2 rocks or in a rock crack.

Mozambique Thick-Tail Scorpion

The Mozambique Thick-Tail Scorpion (Parabuthus mossambicensis), is a medium scorpion with an average length of 60mm to 70mm in length. Overall orange to orange-brown in coloration. Tail segments will granular keels.

Olive Lessor Thick-Tail Scorpion

The Olive Lessor Thick-Tail Scorpion (Uroplectes olivaceous), is a small scorpion with an average length between 40mm to 50mm in length. Overall olive-green in colouration. The fingers on the pincers are lighter in colour, legs characterised by light and dark bands.

Pegler's Pygmy Thick-Tail Scorpion

The Pegler’s Pygmy Thick-Tail Scorpion (Pseudolychas pegleri), is a small scorpion with an average length about 25mm. Overall colouration dark-brown to reddish-brown throughout it’s range. Shape of venom vesicle is characteristic being large with a short recurved sting. 

Shiny Burrowing Scorpion

The Shiny Burrowing Scorpion (Opistophthlamus glabrifrons), is a large scorpion with an average length of 70mm to 100mm, reaching up to 140mm in parts of its range. This widely distributed scorpion varies in size and colouration throughout range.

Transvaal Thick-Tail Scorpion

The Transvaal Thick-Tail Scorpion (Parabuthus transvaalicus), is a large scorpion with an average length between 80mm to 100mm in length, reaching 120mm in some areas. Overall charcoal-black to greyish brown.

Tree Creeping Scorpion

The Tree Creeping Scorpion (Opistacanthus asper). is a medium sized scorpion, average 65mm to 85mm in length, attaining 70mm in other areas. Colouration black with pale legs and sting.
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