A large scorpion of around 13 cm with the tail extended. It is dark brown to light brown or dark orange/yellow in colour with light yellow legs. The back has lighter thin bands across it. The pincers are pale brown to yellow with dark tips and a dark line running down the side.
Full name: Cape Burrower (Opistophthalmus capensis)
Classification: MILDLY VENOMOUS
A large scorpion of around 13 cm with the tail extended. It is dark brown to light brown or dark orange/yellow in colour with light yellow legs. The back has lighter thin bands across it. The pincers are pale brown to yellow with dark tips and a dark line running down the side.
It is endemic to the Cape, found from about Lampert’s Bay down the coast to the Cape Peninsula then east to around Strand in the Western Cape. This scorpion is found under rocks and debris often on coastal dune sand. It is active on warm nights.
It may be confused with other burrower scorpions. The sting of this species may cause pain but is not medically important.
