Opisthacanthus asper

Opisthacanthus asper is an arboreal species of scorpion from the tropical regions of central and south africa. It's a medium sized scorpion with a black metasoma and yellow legs. Males of O. asper can be distinguished by observing a pronounced tooth near the base of the moveable finger.

HABITAT

🌍 Geographic Range:

Southern Africa
Widely found in South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo Province, Bushveld and Lowveld regions).

Also present in Eswatini (Swaziland), Mozambique, and parts of Zimbabwe.

Within these areas, it’s especially associated with savanna woodland ecosystems.

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🏡 Microhabitat Preferences:

Arboreal species – prefers living in trees and shrubs, especially those with fissured bark like Acacia / Knobthorn.

Often hides

In cracks and crevices of bark

Beneath loose bark layers

Among tree roots or fallen logs

Microhabitat:

humid microclimates under bark during the day; emerges at night to hunt insects and other small prey.

Found in bushveld, savanna, and lowland woodland habitats, generally below ~1,500 m elevation.

Physical Description

📏Size:

Opisthacanthus asper is a medium-to-large scorpion, reaching a total length of about 8–10 cm (roughly 3–4 inches) when fully grown. Its body is fairly robust with relatively thick pedipalps.

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🎨Coloration:

The colouration is typically dark brown to almost black, with lighter yellowish to reddish-brown legs and telson. The pedipalps often show a subtle mottling or lighter shading on the fingers, while the carapace and mesosoma remain darker. This contrast gives the species a sturdy, bark-like appearance that helps it blend into tree trunks.

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🔎Detail:

The species is notable for its relatively large size compared to other tree-dwelling scorpions in its range.

It can be identified through it's chela.

Opisthacanthus have denticles on the pedipalps, two rows specifically, each row with several enlarged denticles that evenly separate their subordinate row.

Captive Care

📏Enclosure Size:

Medium arboreal setup is best. A single adult needs at least a 30–40 cm tall enclosure (≈ 12–16 inches), with good vertical climbing space and some floor area. A volume of 20–30 litres (5–8 gallons) is sufficient for one, though larger is always better.

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🌡️Temperature:

Maintain 24–28 °C with a gentle gradient. Nighttime drops to around 21–22 °C are acceptable. Avoid prolonged exposure below 20 °C.

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💧Humidity:

Prefers moderate humidity (60–70%) with good airflow. Mist lightly 2 times per week, allowing the enclosure to dry slightly between mistings.

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🌱Substrate:

A few centimetres of coco fibre, soil, or sand/soil mix to hold some humidity. Burrowing is minimal, but substrate helps regulate moisture and provides a base for climbing structures.

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⏰Feeding schedule:

Feed every 2 weeks. Offer appropriately sized prey such as crickets, roaches, or locusts. Adults may skip meals, so remove uneaten prey after 24 hours.

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🥣Water Source:

Provide a shallow water dish with fresh water. Also, mist surfaces lightly to allow drinking droplets, as they may prefer this.

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🍃Ventilation

Good cross-ventilation is essential to prevent stagnant, overly humid air. Mesh or vented lids work well, but avoid making the enclosure drafty.

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🙈Hides:

Provide vertical bark slabs, cork tubes, or tree-branch crevices to simulate natural shelters under bark. These are essential, as the species hides in tree crevices by day.

VENOM

💉 Opisthacanthus asper has venom that is regarded as mild for humans. A sting is usually painful, similar to that of a bee or wasp, but it is not considered medically significant.

Typical effects are localized pain, redness, and slight swelling, sometimes with a brief numbness around the sting site. Serious systemic reactions such as muscle spasms or breathing problems have not been reported for this species.

Its venom is mainly suited to subduing insect prey rather than deterring large predators, and while it is not dangerous to healthy adults, people with insect venom allergies may experience stronger reactions.

STATS

LATIN NAME:

• Opisthacanthus asper

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COMMON NAME:

• Tree Creeper Scorpion

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TEMPERATURE

• 24°- 28°

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TEMPERAMENT:

• May pinch if bothered

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HUMIDITY:

• 70%

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COMMUNAL:

• 3/5

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SIZE:

• Up to 10cm

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ECOLOGY:

• Arboreal

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SUBSTRATE:

• Water-retentive soil

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ORIGIN:

• South Africa

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