Scorpions
Guides
Buthidae
fat-tailed scorpions, bark scorpions, arrowbreasted scorpions
Buthidae is the largest family of scorpions, containing approximately 100 genera and 1300 species as of 2025. Members are typically mid-sized to small, with weak, slender pedipalps and characteristically thickened tails. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution throughout tropical and subtropical environments worldwide. Buthidae includes nearly all medically significant scorpion species, with venoms containing potent neurotoxins that affect ion channels.
Diplocentrus
Toothed Scorpions
Diplocentrus is a genus of scorpions in the family Diplocentridae, commonly known as toothed scorpions. The genus contains more than 60 described species distributed primarily in Central America, Mexico, and the southwestern United States. Species in this genus are characterized by their elongated pedipalps and distinctive tooth-like structures on the chelicerae. The genus includes both mainland and island-dwelling species, with documented occurrences in the Chisos Mountains of Texas and Islas de la Bahía in Honduras.
Vaejovidae
Devil Scorpions
Vaejovidae is a family of scorpions comprising approximately 25 genera and over 230 species, with the common name 'Devil Scorpions.' The family is endemic to North America, ranging from western Guatemala through Mexico and into the western United States, with one species extending into the Appalachian Mountains. Members of this family occupy diverse habitats including desert playas, chaparral, pine-spruce forests at high elevations, and alkali sinks. Several species have been described recently from California, including new species discovered through community science platforms.