VERY
DANGEROUS
VERY
DANGEROUS
Rough Thicktail
(Parabuthus granulatus, light form)
Rough Thicktail
(Parabuthus granulatus, dark form)
Eastern Nomad
(Hottentotta trilineatus)
Striped Lesser-Thicktail
(Uroplectes lineatus)
NOTE
Tree Creeper
(Opisthacanthus asper)
In the case of stings from harmless species apply an ice pack
or topical anaesthetic cream to manage the pain.
Johan Marais is the author of various books on reptiles including the
best-seller A Complete Guide to Snakes of Southern Africa. Scorpion Awareness
and basic first aid for stings are included in several of Johan’s courses. Scorpion
identification and handling courses are also provided through the ASI in conjunction
with local experts Ian Engelbrecht and Alistair Mathie. For more information contact:
Johan Marais | African Snakebite Institute | +27 82 494 2039
[email protected]
Find out more at www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com
I
AF R
Cape Thicktail
(Parabuthus capensis)
HARMLESS
Highveld Lesser-Thicktail
(Uroplectes triangulifer triangulifer)
HARMLESS
Rough Burrower
(Opistophthalmus glabrifrons)
HARMLESS
Karoo Burrower
(Opistophthalmus karrooensis)
HARMLESS
HARMLESS
Rock Scorpion
(Hadogenes longimanus, female)
Plain Pygmy-Thicktail
(Pseudolychas ochraceus)
Kalahari Burrower
(Opistophthalmus wahlbergii )
DANGEROUS
HARMLESS
HARMLESS
HARMLESS
I T U T E.c
HARMLESS
Common Lesser-Thicktail
(Uroplectes carinatus)
Bark Scorpion
(Uroplectes vittatus)
Cape Burrower
(Opistophthalmus capensis)
Transvaal Thicktail
(Parabuthus transvaalicus)
HARMLESS
HARMLESS
ST
VERY
DANGEROUS
DANGEROUS
DANGEROUS
Drab Thicktail
(Parabuthus planicauda)
Painful sting, but does
not require antivenom
HARMLESS
HARMLESS
Giant Rock Scorpion
(Hadogenes troglodytes, male)
HARMLESS
Drakensberg Creeper
(Opisthacanthus validus)
om
May be life threatening in
small children and animals
HARMLESS
Jones’s Creeper
(Cheloctonus jonesii )
EMERGENCY PROTOCOL
Stings from dangerous and very
dangerous scorpions must be
treated as a medical emergency.
1 Transport the victim to hospital without delay.
2 Immobilize the affected limb to slow the spread of venom.
3 If the victim stops breathing, apply artificial respiration
or use a Bag Valve Mask.
4 Call the Poison Information Centre helpline for further
advice: +27 21 931 6129.
DO NOT
DANGEROUS
IN
Has caused
human fatalities
E
E
OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
VERY
DANGEROUS
S NAK
B IT
COMMON SCORPIONS
N
CA
... apply a tourniquet.
... cut and suck the wound.
... use ice or very hot water.
... give the victim alcohol.
... apply electric shock.
... inject antivenom randomly.
Antivenom (if required) must
be administered by a doctor
in a hospital environment.