The order Scorpiones contains about 1 500 known species worldwide. South Africa has a rich fauna represented by three families: Buthidae, Liochelidae and Scorpionidae and more than hundred species.

Scorpions are predators and the South African scorpions can be divided into three ecological categories according to their choice of habitat, viz. burrowing scorpions, rock-dwelling or arboreal species. They are fairly well collected and research shows that most regions contain at least one endemic species. Hotspots of rare species showed a concentration in the western third of Southern Africa and they occurr in regions of rugged topography, complex geology, or varied strata.

Conservation status: No scorpions are presently protected in South Africa. Scorpions are not too difficult to collect and therefore might be endangered by collectors. They can also be endangered by pollution and habitat destruction.

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