Habitat:

The distribution of Parabuthus planicauda covers the Western Cape, the Eastern  Cape and the Northern Cape, but they are most abundant at the southern coastal areas of the Western Cape and the Eastern  Cape.
The habitats are hilly and steadily, but loose overgrown with shrubs and small plants. Some places were also overgrown by some small bushes.
Especially the hills are very rocky and provide a lot of hides for the scorpions. Flat and big rocks are very common here.
The winter is more wet than the summer - a consequence of the proximity to the coast - and most rains falls during the winter season. Temperature in summer is hot with more than 30°C and the winter can become relative cold with temperatures below 5°C.



Scorpions:

Parabuthus planicauda, Uroplectes marlothi, Uroplectes triangulifer, Opistophthalmus karrooensis and Opistophthalmus pictus were observed in the same habitat.

Parabuthus planicauda adult female - Western Cape


Parabuthus planicauda adult male - Western Cape



Uroplectes marlothi adult female - Western  Cape


Uroplectes marlothi adult male - Western Cape


Uroplectes triangulifer adult female - Western Cape


Uroplectes triangulifer adult male - Western Cape



Opistophthalmus karrooensis adult male - Northern Cape



Opistophthalmus karrooensis adult female - Northern Cape



Opistophthalmus karrooensis mating couple - Northern Cape




Opistophthalmus pictus adult male - Western Cape



Other invertebrates

Termites and ants
Centipedes (up to 10cm)
Spiders (small and medium sized species)
Grasshoppers and crickets (medium sized and big species)
Cockroaches (small species)
Moths (small to big species)
Millipedes (bigger species)


Reptiles

Geckos and other lizards
Pachydactylus purcelli



Lifestyle of Parabuthus planicauda:

Parabuthus planicauda seem to be relative abundant in their habitats. Differently to most other Parabuthus species, they don´t dig deep burrows. They prefer to dig small burrows directly under rocks in the loamy substrate.
Males and females occur in the same ratio. At night they start their activity relative early, when the sun sets and both genders could be observed active outside their burrows.
The females give birth to approximately 30 to 50 juveniles in late spring to early summer. They seem to need a certain moisture to give birth and molt.