Opistophthalmus fuscipes (Purcell, 1899)
Opistophthalmus fuscipes (Purcell, 1899)
Picture by paulbester
Male and female Opistophthalmus fuscipes (Renosterveld Burrowing Scorpion) from Riebeek West.
One of the few scorpion species in South Africa that are truly at risk of losing too much habitat due to the land being repurposed for agricultural use. They are now only found in isolated pockets of Renosterveld. Small populations are usually found along the slopes of the few mountains or steep hills in the area because it is impractical for farmers to work the land on these areas.
Male Opistophthalmus fuscipes (Renosterveld Burrowing Scorpion) from Malmesbury
Female Opistophthalmus fuscipes (Renosterveld Burrowing Scorpion) from Riebeek West
A species endemic to the Renosterveld region of the Western Cape, occurring from Paarl in the South to around just North of Piketberg. Most of their natural habitat has been converted to agricultural land. They only occur on small pockets of natural habitat and the populations have become seperated from each other as a result. Thankfully most of the habitat that is left is not fit for agriculture because of the topography.
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