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Flat Rock Scorpion
Hadogenes troglodytes
The Flat Rock Scorpion is a remarkably large, exceptionally docile arachnid from South Africa, instantly recognized by its highly compressed body shape evolved specifically for squeezing into crevices.
Class:Arachnida
Order:Scorpiones
Family:Hormuridae
Subfamily:Hormurinae
Genus:Hadogenes
Species:Hadogenes troglodytes
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
40 - 60 %
Ambient temperature
28 - 30 °C
Day temperature
28 °C
Night temperature
22 °C
Substrate depth
>= 4 cm
UVB
None
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Hadogenes troglodytes is native to southern Africa, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. It is strictly lithophilic, inhabiting narrow gaps between granite and sandstone boulders in dry bushveld areas.
Taxonomy and Genetics: A member of the Hormuridae family, described by Peters in 1861. Its genetic lineage shows extreme morphological specialization for crevice dwelling, resulting in a unique body plan that has changed little over millennia.
Behavior and Habits: Nocturnal and remarkably docile. They rarely sting, preferring to pinch weakly with their chelae if disturbed. They spend virtually all daylight hours wedged deeply inside rock crevices, waiting for night to hunt.
Morphology: Features a highly flattened cephalothorax and abdomen, allowing it to squeeze into crevices only millimeters wide. It is one of the longest scorpions, reaching up to 20 cm. Males have extremely long, thin tails compared to females.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: A horizontal enclosure of at least 40-50 liters is recommended. The setup must feature stacks of flat stones (such as slate) secured with silicone to prevent collapse. Provide a thin sand/soil substrate mix.
Lighting and Heating: Keep daytime temperatures at 28-30°C at the warm side and 24°C at the cool side using a side-mounted heat mat. Do not use under-tank heating as they dig to cool off. UVB lighting is unnecessary.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain low humidity levels around 30-40%. Lightly spray a corner of the terrarium once a week. Place a very shallow water dish with pebbles inside to ensure the scorpion can drink without any danger of drowning.
Feeding and Supplementation: Feed gut-loaded crickets or small roaches once a week. Due to their extremely slow metabolic rate, they feed infrequently and can go months without food, especially when preparing to molt.
Compatibility: Best kept individually. While they are less aggressive than other scorpions, territorial issues and cannibalism can occur, especially when one individual is soft and vulnerable immediately after shedding its exoskeleton.
Health and Common Diseases: The most critical hazard is unstable rockwork that can crush the animal. Other risks include dehydration from lack of moisture and shedding failures if the enclosure is kept too dry during a molt.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Hadogenes troglodytes is native to southern Africa, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. It is strictly lithophilic, inhabiting narrow gaps between granite and sandstone boulders in dry bushveld areas.
Origin
Africa and Madagascar
Terrestrial invertebrate profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 20 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Venom level
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 20 cm. The The Scorpion Files — Hadogenes troglodytes source reports a maximum adult measurement of 20 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). The taxonomic record consulted is Hadogenes troglodytes. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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