Drakensberg Creeper

A medium sized scorpion of around 9 cm with the tail extended. It is black in colour, but often with a muddy appearance. It sometimes has lighter coloured legs and a lighter tipped tail.

Full name: Drakensberg Creeper (Opisthacanthus validus)

Classification: MILDLY VENOMOUS

A medium sized scorpion of around 9 cm with the tail extended.  It is black in colour, but often with a muddy appearance. It sometimes has lighter coloured legs and a lighter tipped tail.

It is common across its range, occurring under rocks, often at high elevations in areas like the Drakensberg. It occurs from around Port Elizabeth up the coast into KZN and Lesotho, extending into eastern Mpumalanga, and Limpopo Provinces and eSwatini.

It may be confused with other creeper scorpions but is the most common species in its range. The sting of this species may cause pain but is not medically important.

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