Parabuthus transvaalicus
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| Parabuthus transvaalicus Purcell, 1899 |
Parabuthus transvaalicus (common names include black spitting thicktail scorpion, South African fattail scorpion, South African giant fat tail and South African spitting scorpion) is one of the largest scorpions in the family Buthidae.
It is one of the most venomous scorpions on the African continent and is therefore dangerous to humans. The spitting scorpion has relatively small pincers, instead, using its ability to spray venom over 1 metre as its main defence.
This species of scorpion grows to a length of 12 cm (5 inches) and they are commonly seen in black and brown or chocolate-brown. This species is a desert/scrubland scorpion and is found in Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique under logs and stones.
