Golden-green Lesser-Thicktail Scorpion

A small scorpion under 5 cm with the tail extended. A black to dark blue/olive scorpion with banded legs and pincers. The joints of the legs and tips of the pincers are usually light yellow to orange.

Full name: Golden-green Lesser-Thicktail Scorpion (Uroplectes flavoviridis)

Classification: MILDLY VENOMOUS

A small scorpion under 5 cm with the tail extended. A black to dark blue/olive scorpion with banded legs and pincers. The joints of the legs and tips of the pincers are usually light yellow to orange.

In South Africa it is only found in the lowveld of Limpopo from Kruger Park in the east to the Botswana border in the west. It is found under rocks and debris usually on hard soils. It is also active on warm nights.

It may be confused with other lesser-thicktail scorpions, especially the Olive Lesser-thicktail and the dark form of Highveld Lesser-thicktail. The sting of this species may cause pain but is not medically important.

Map indicating distribution of the Golden-green Lesser-thicktail scorpion in Southern Africa
African Snakebite Institute