Details
Leiurus quinquestriatus
The deathstalker scorpion is a desert scorpion of the Palearctic and Afrotropical realms. It is a small, solitary nocturnal carnivore with potent venom.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It lives in dry deserts and rocky arid ground. By day it shelters under stones, in cracks, or in shallow burrows to avoid heat and dryness.
Length is about 6-11 cm and weight about 1-3 g. The body is slender and yellowish, with relatively narrow pincers and a tail ending in a venomous sting.
It is nocturnal and solitary. It senses vibration and touch while hunting, and raises the tail when threatened.
It is carnivorous, taking insects and other small arthropods. Prey is held with the pincers and stung when needed.
Females give birth to live young after mating. The young ride on the mother's back for a short period, then disperse after early molts.
Its conservation status is LC. Because it is known for strong venom, it should never be handled in the field.
