Vaejovidae - 53 Species, Identification & Facts

Lesser Stripetail Scorpion

Chihuahuanus coahuilae

Identification: This scorpion superficially looks similar to the much larger Vaejovis spinigerus , with which it is often confused. But closer examination with the two will show that Vaejovis coahuilae has its carapace entirely "mottled", whereas Vae

Chihuahuanus russelli

Identification: Red fingers, scalloped (open space between base of fingers); elongate metasoma (tail). Overall color yellow brown, rarely with markings on the back. Originally described from specimens collected in Portal, Cochise Co., Arizona, which

Kochius sonorae

Identification: Large pedipalps chelae, spiniform setae, shagreened surface. Similar to Vaejovis hirsuticauda but without setose telson.

Arizona Stripedtail Scorpion

Paravaejovis spinigerus

Identification: "Female, note wide girth. Not necessarily "fatness", but the width of the mesosoma segments (main body), the middle tergites (plates) are wider than the more anterior ones. In males, the tergites are usually the same width or nearly s

Texas Cave Scorpion

Pseudouroctonus reddelli

One of the more interesting vaejovids, both ecologically and taxonomically, is Pseudouroctonus reddelli (Gertsch & Soleglad 1972), a relatively large, dark-colored species distributed throughout much of central Texas (Gertsch & Soleglad 1972 ; Stockw

California Forest Scorpion

Uroctonus mordax

Identification: Fifth metasomal segment has a ventral median carina which forks to form a "Y" (see photos below). This character, according to Kari McWest (see comments here: 1 ), is the "definitive character for U. mordax mordax and U. m. pluridens

Vaejovis cashi

Perhaps the most abundant scorpion in the Chiricahua Mountains, found from as low as Cave Creek near Portal to the summit. Venom is extremely weak with no ill effects to humans.

Vaejovis intermedius

Identification: This is the only species in the United States that has characters found on both Vaejovis and Serradigitus . These include elongate fingers that terminate in a large claw-like denticle with the outer edge with a white "cap", but withou

Vaejovis vorhiesi

Undescribed species related to the montane scorpions Vaejovis vorhiesi , V. cashi , and V. paysonensis will be temporarily placed in this guide until the descriptions in progress are published.