Opistophthalmus haackei (Lawrence, 1966)

Opistophthalmus haackei (Lawrence, 1966)

Picture by paulbester

Male Opistophthalmus haackei (Haacke's Burrowing Scorpion) from Klein Pella

A species that is rarely encountered because of their remote location, harsh environment and very few human settlements. They prefer living on the rocky slopes of mountains and rocky gulleys where they hide in any crevices the rocks and boulders provide and which will protect them from the extreme temperatures in their distribution range.

Picture by paulbester

Opistophthalmus haackei (Haacke's Burrowing Scorpion) from Klein Pella.

One of my all-time favourite scorpions. A rarely seen species that occurs along the South African side of the Orange River on the border with Namibia. Its distribution area is relatively small and it has never been recorded North of the Orange in Namibia, which in itself is rather strange as most species in the area around the Orange River do cross into both countries.

Picture by paulbester

Female Opistophthalmus haackei (Haacke's Burrowing Scorpion) from Klein Pella

Most Opistophthalmus species are easy to handle as long as they aren't treated roughly or startled. This (very round) female O. haackei shows exactly what their behaviour is like, rather bundling up than striking out.

Picture by paulbester

Opistophthalmus haackei (Haacke's Burrowing Scorpion) from Klein Pella.

A species that inhabits the rocky slopes of the mountains adjacent to the Orange River. Not an easy species to try and UV light for at night considering where you have to look for them. They seem to like areas where the slopes of the mountains are extremely loose with rocks and boulders, making it a difficult walk in the pitch black of the night.