Cape Creeper

A medium sized scorpion of around 9 cm with the tail extended. It is a shiny black in colour with rough pincers. It is common across its range, occurring under rocks, bark and other surface debris often found close to the coast.

Full name: Cape Creeper  (Opisthacanthus capensis)

Classification: MILDLY VENOMOUS

A medium sized scorpion of around 9 cm with the tail extended. It is a shiny black in colour with rough pincers. It is common across its range, occurring under rocks, bark and other surface debris often found close to the coast.

It occurs from around Port Elizabeth down the coast to about Cape Town reaching inland to the Swartberg. It may be confused with other creeper scorpions but is the most common species in its range.

This species may venture into houses but is very docile and hardly stings. The sting of this species may cause pain but is not medically important.

Map indicating distribution of the Cape Creeper in Southern Africa
African Snakebite Institute