Bug FAQBlack-tailed Alligatorback Scorpion
Hottentotta jayakari · Order: Scorpiones · Family: Buthidae
Also called: Jayakar's Alligatorback Scorpion
Source: Wikipedia
The Black-tailed Alligatorback Scorpion is about 5 cm long, up to 9 cm if the stinger is included. Its body parts to sting, pedipalps and cephalothorax to are black, while its legs are bright yellow, giving a strong contrast. It lives widely across the Arabian Peninsula and Iran and hunts smaller animals, subduing them with its sting.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The sting, pedipalps and cephalothorax are black, and the legs are bright yellow.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Body length reaches 50 mm without the stinger and up to 90 mm with it.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
The scorpion is shy and usually flees rather than sting, but it can sting if provoked. The venom has not been quantified, but it is assumed to be medically significant.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is widespread across much of the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
It is a predatory scorpion that feeds on smaller animals, using its sting to subdue prey.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Identification relies on its distinctive black body parts and bright-yellow legs.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
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Questions people ask
Can this scorpion sting humans?
Yes, it can sting, and the venom is thought to be medically significant.
Source: Wikipedia
What does the Black-tailed Alligatorback Scorpion look like?
It has a black sting, pedipalps and cephalothorax with bright-yellow legs.
Source: Wikipedia
How big does this scorpion get?
Its body is about 5 cm long, up to 9 cm when the stinger is included.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is this scorpion found?
It is widespread across the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Buthidae)
Striped Bark ScorpionCentruroides vittatusCan sting
Arizona Bark ScorpionCentruroides sculpturatusVenomous
Slender Brown ScorpionCentruroides gracilisVenomous
Edward's Bark ScorpionCentruroides edwardsiiVenomous
Hentz Striped ScorpionCentruroides hentziCan sting
Common Yellow ScorpionButhus occitanusVenomousSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hottentotta_jayakari
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.