Opistophthalmus glabrifrons
From WikiPets
This is a specific care sheet for Yellow-legged Burrowing Scorpions (Opistophthalmus glabrifrons), for more in this genus see Category:Opistophthalmus.
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[edit] Introduction
O. glabrifrons is most commonly referred to as the Yellow-legged Burrowing Scorpion. There are 50 species of African Burrowing scorpions ranging throughout the southern and eastern third of Africa. These scorpions are obligate burrowers, prefering fairly hard packed soils in which they can dig relatively long, deep tunnels.
Details regarding how best to care for these scorpions are particularly rare. If you have any experience with these animals, please feel free to contribute and share your knowledge with the community by editing this page. Any contributions will be highly appreciated.
Scorpion Information (for a more detailed Scorpion care review see Scorpion Care Sheet  | |
| Regions Found: | Southern and Eastern Africa |
| Class: | Burrowing species |
| Longevity: | unknown |
| Adult Scorpion Size: | 15 cm |
| Temperament: | Very defensive |
| Claws: | Strong pedipalps |
| Sting Potency: | Intensely painful venom |
| Opistophthalmus glabrifrons Housing Requirements | |
| Scorpion Housing: | Minimum 8 gallon tank with deep substrate levels |
| Temperature range: | unknown |
| Humidity range: | unknown |
| Special Requirements: | Deep substrate |
| Opistophthalmus glabrifrons Breeding | |
| Breeding Difficulty: | Difficult |
| Birth Size: | unknown |
| Danger to Male: | unknown |
| Recommended Pet Supplies for Opistophthalmus glabrifrons | |
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[edit] Description
The Yellow-legged Burrowing Scorpion usually develops to a size of approximately six inches (15 cm). It has a stocky build and large, broad pincers, giving them a solid appearance. Also, they are more colourful than most other species of scorpion. Large females are impressive, attractive scorpions; unfortunately sightings will be infrequent and rare as they spend most of their lives hidden underground in their burrows.
[edit] Habitat
As a burrowing species, the Yellow-legged requires a large enclosure with a substantial depth of hard-packing substrate to enable the specimen to effectively engineer the tunnels and burrows that it would require in the wild.
[edit] Behaviour
All species of Burrowing scorpion (Opistophthalmus) will sting readily if cornered or restrained. One species, O. carinatus, is said to have very strong venom, whereas the others in the genus vary from mild to strong. Regardless of the species, their sting is intensely painful at the envenomation site for as long as 48 hours, but without any lasting after effects. The pain has been equated to that produced by bashing a finger with a hammer.
