About Uroctonus mordax Thorell, 1876
Uroctonus mordax Thorell, 1876, commonly called the California forest scorpion or western forest scorpion, is a scorpion species belonging to the family Vaejovidae. This species is almost entirely restricted to California's Redwood Forests and Oak Woodlands, where it is considered a foundational species. It is most commonly encountered on south or west-facing slopes, hiding under ground-level rocks or logs, and prefers moist environments. The western forest scorpion is most abundant in the San Francisco Bay Area, but it also occurs in western Oregon, ranging as far north as southern Washington. It often lives in remote areas of west-facing hills, and its habitat spans elevations from 5 meters to 2000 meters. Unlike other scorpion species, California forest scorpions need a moister environment, so they primarily live under rocks, bark, and dead trees.
