Tree Creeper

A large scorpion of around 10 cm with the tail extended. This species is pitch black usually with orange or yellow legs and stinger. It has large black pincers.

Full name: Tree Creeper  (Opisthacanthus asper)

Classification: MILDLY VENOMOUS

A large scorpion of around 10 cm with the tail extended. This species is pitch black usually with orange or yellow legs and stinger. It has large black pincers.

It can be found under the bark of trees or active at night near trees. It hunts from the crevices under the bark of trees and with the use of a UV torch, often only the pincers are visible.

It occurs on the eastern side of South Africa from around Hluhluwe north through eSwatini into Mpumalanga and Limpopo up into Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

It may be confused with other creeper scorpions but is mainly found on trees. The sting of this species may cause pain but is not medically important.

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