Scorpion

Plate showing a scorpion, an arachnid in the family Scorpionidae, on a patch of moss or grass.

Scorpio afer, the scientific name assigned to this scorpion by Linnaeus, is considered a nomen dubium—a dubious name—because it remains difficult to determine which species it actually refers to. Heterometrus cyaneus, Heterometrus indus, and Pandinus imperator appear to be the most likely candidates.