In the world of arachnids, bigger usually means scarier—but Hadogenes troglodytes, commonly known as the Flat Rock Scorpion, challenges that stereotype. While it holds the title of one of the longest scorpions in the world, it is famously known among enthusiasts as a “gentle giant.”

Endemic to the rocky landscapes of Southern Africa (specifically South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe), this species has evolved a highly specialized body plan to survive in the narrowest of margins.