''Opistophthalmus'' is a
genus of
scorpions known commonly as burrowing scorpions, tricolored scorpions, serkets, or hissing scorpions. They are found predominantly in southern
Africa. They are known for making deep and elaborate burrows.
Description
''Opistophthalmus'' scorpions are typically heavily built for scorpions, and have broad, powerful claws (
chelae). They vary in color from
yellow through
brown to
black, usually with darker or lighter areas. The leg color is typically much lighter than the rest of the body.
File:O. pallipes female(left) and male(right).jpg, ''O. pallipes'' female (left) and male (right)
Species
Sources disagree on how many species are within the genus, but they number around 60:
*''
Opistophthalmus adustus''
(Kraepelin,2898)
*''
Opistophthalmus ammopus''
(Lamoral, 1980)
*''
Opistophthalmus ater''
(Purcell, 1898)
*''
Opistophthalmus austerus''
(Karsch, 1879)
*''
Opistophthalmus boehmi''
(Kraepelin, 1896)
*''
Opistophthalmus brevicauda''
(Lawrence, 1928)
*''
Opistophthalmus capensis''
( Herbst, 1800)
*''
Opistophthalmus carinatus
The robust burrowing scorpion (''Opistophthalmus carinatus'') is a widespread species of scorpion in the drier regions of southern Africa. It is a burrowing
An Eastern chipmunk at the entrance of its burrow
A burrow is a hole or tunnel excavat ...
''
( Peters, 1861)
*''
Opistophthalmus cavimanus''
(Lawrence, 1928)
*''
Opistophthalmus chaperi
''Opistophthalmus'' is a genus of scorpions known commonly as burrowing scorpions, tricolored scorpions, serkets, or hissing scorpions. They are found predominantly in southern Africa. They are known for making deep and elaborate burrows.
Desc ...
''
(Simon, 1880)
*''
Opistophthalmus chrysites''
(Lawrence, 1967)
*''
Opistophthalmus coetzeei''
(Lamoral, 1979)
*''
Opistophthalmus concinnus''
(Newlands, 1972)
*''
Opistophthalmus crassimanus''
( Purcell, 1899)
*''
Opistophthalmus fitzsimonsi''
(Hewitt, 1935)
*''
Opistophthalmus flavescens''
(Purcell, 1898)
*''
Opistophthalmus fossor''
(Purcell, 1898)
*''
Opistophthalmus fuscipes''
(Purcell, 1899)
*''
Opistophthalmus gibbericauda''
(Lamoral, 1979)
*''
Opistophthalmus gigas''
(Purcell, 1898)
*''
Opistophthalmus glabrifrons
''Opistophalmus glabrifrons'' (commonly known as the shiny burrow scorpion or the yellow-legged burrowing scorpion) is a large (adult size: 11–15 cm) species of burrowing scorpion found in Southern and Eastern Africa.
References
...
''
( Peters, 1861)
*''
Opistophthalmus granicauda
''Opistophthalmus'' is a genus of scorpions known commonly as burrowing scorpions, tricolored scorpions, serkets, or hissing scorpions. They are found predominantly in southern Africa. They are known for making deep and elaborate burrows.
Desc ...
''
(Purcell, 1898)
*''
Opistophthalmus granifrons''
(Pocock, 1896)
*''
Opistophthalmus haackei''
(Lawrence, 1966)
*''
Opistophthalmus holmi''
(Lawrence, 1969)
*''
Opistophthalmus intercedens''
(Kraepelin, 1908)
*''
Opistophthalmus intermedius''
(Kraepelin, 1894)
*''
Opistophthalmus jenseni''
(Lamoral, 1972)
*''
Opistophthalmus karrooensis''
(Purcell, 1898)
*''
Opistophthalmus keilandsi''
(Hewitt, 1914)
*''
Opistophthalmus lamorali''
(Prendini, 2000)
*''
Opistophthalmus laticauda''
(Purcell, 1898)
*''
Opistophthalmus latimanus''
(Koch
Koch may refer to:
People
* Koch (surname), people with this surname
* Koch dynasty, a dynasty in Assam and Bengal, north east India
* Koch family
* Koch people (or Koche), an ethnic group originally from the ancient Koch kingdom in north east ...
, 1841)
*''
Opistophthalmus latro''
( Thorell, 1894)
*''
Opistophthalmus lawrencei''
(Newlands, 1969)
*''
Opistophthalmus leipoldti''
(Purcell, 1898)
*''
Opistophthalmus litoralis''
(Lawrence, 1955)
*''
Opistophthalmus longicauda''
(Purcell, 1899)
*''
Opistophthalmus lornae
''Opistophthalmus'' is a genus of scorpions known commonly as burrowing scorpions, tricolored scorpions, serkets, or hissing scorpions. They are found predominantly in southern Africa. They are known for making deep and elaborate burrows.
Desc ...
''
(Lamoral, 1979)
*''
Opistophthalmus luciranus''
(Lawrence, 1959)
*''
Opistophthalmus lundensis''
(Monrad, 1937)
*''
Opistophthalmus macer''
(Thorell, 1876)
*''
Opistophthalmus nitidiceps''
(Pocock, 1896)
*''
Opistophthalmus opinatus
''Opistophthalmus'' is a genus of scorpions known commonly as burrowing scorpions, tricolored scorpions, serkets, or hissing scorpions. They are found predominantly in southern Africa. They are known for making deep and elaborate burrows.
Desc ...
''
(Simon, 1888)
*''
Opistophthalmus pallipes''
(Koch, 1842)
*''
Opistophthalmus pattisoni''
(Purcell, 1899)
*''
Opistophthalmus penrithorum''
(Lamoral, 1979)
*''
Opistophthalmus peringueyi''
(Purcell, 1898)
*''
Opistophthalmus pictus''
(Kraepelin, 1894)
*''
Opistophthalmus pluridens''
(Hewitt, 1918)
*''
Opistophthalmus praedo''
(Thorell, 1876)
*''
Opistophthalmus pugnax''
(Thorell, 1876)
*''
Opistophthalmus pygmaeus''
(Lamoral, 1979)
*''
Opistophthalmus scabrifrons''
(Hewitt, 1913)
*''
Opistophthalmus schlechteri''
(Purcell, 1898)
*''
Opistophthalmus schultzei''
(Kraepelin, 1908)
*''
Opistophthalmus setifrons''
(Lawrence, 1961)
*''
Opistophthalmus ugabensis''
(Hewitt, 1934)
*''
Opistophthalmus wahlbergii''
(Thorell, 1876)
*''
Opistophthalmus werneri
''Opistophthalmus'' is a genus of scorpions known commonly as burrowing scorpions, tricolored scorpions, serkets, or hissing scorpions. They are found predominantly in southern Africa. They are known for making deep and elaborate burrows.
Desc ...
''
(Lamoral & Reynders, 1975)
In captivity
''O. glabrifrons'', ''O. wahlbergii'', and ''O. boehmi'' are readily available in the exotic
pet trade. They are generally hardy captives, but tend to have a nervous disposition and if set up properly with deep substrate, they are rarely seen, as they burrow and hide most of the time.
Toxicity
In southern Africa, thick-clawed scorpions belonging to the families Scorpionidae, Bothriuridae, and Ischnuridae, are generally assumed to be harmless. However, ''Opistophthalmus glabrifrons'' is an exception to the rule. ''Opistophthalmus species'' are burrowing scorpions, and probably never leave their burrows except when coming out to mate. This probably accounts for the timing and relative rarity of their stings.
References
Scorpions of southern Africa*http://www.afpmb.org/sites/default/files/pubs/guides/field_guide.pdf
Scorpionidae
Scorpions of Africa
{{Scorpion-stub