Monster Monday: Whip Scorpion & Pseudoscorpion

Today's Monster Monday is all about things that are called scorpions but which aren't actually scorpions. Whip scorpions are arachnids that spray acid from their butts, and pseudoscorpions have poisonous claws but no tails. They are both really small, but because this is a fantasy RPG I made them big and threatening.

ARACHNOPHOBIA WARNING

This post contains pictures of arachnids. I know most arachnophobic people are okay with seeing scorpions but not okay with seeing spiders, but these guys fall somewhere in between on the spectrum. Personally, I cannot look at pictures of spiders, but for some reason I can see pictures of spider-like arachnids like harvestmen and solifugids with little discomfort. But still, these non-scorpions might be a little too spidery for some people. For the benefit of people scrolling through the main site, I will be putting the page break here instead of right before the stat blocks as I usually do. Click through for more information on these two rarely-discussed types of arachnids and to see pictures of them.


Did that take up enough space? Okay.

Whip scorpions are also known as vinegaroons, because the acid mixture that they spray contains acetic acid, one of the main components of vinegar. Vinegaroon is an awesome name, so why are they also called whip scorpions? Well, the whip part comes from the long, whip-like tail that they use to direct their acid spray. The scorpion part I guess comes from the fact that they have claws, which puts them closer to the scorpion side of the scorpion-spider continuum. In the real world, whip scorpions are about 1-3 inches long, and found mostly in the tropical and sub-tropical Americas, with the largest species (Mastigoproctus giganteus) found as far north as Florida and Arizona. There is one species native to Africa, and none native to Australia, which is unusual since an acid-spraying claw-spider seems pretty on-brand for Australian wildlife. Maybe they can't go to Australia because, despite being pretty menacing looking, whip scorpions are not poisonous. The giant whip scorpion statted up below is about five feet long not including its tail, and is a suitable encounter for adventurers cutting their way through a jungle, trekking through a desert, or venturing into the cave systems that are scattered below any good fantasy RPG setting.

photo via Wikimedia

A menacing giant whip scorpion (M. giganteus) displaying its claw-like pincers and whip tail

Pseudoscorpions are, in nature, much smaller than whip scorpions. The largest species, Garypus titanius, is a whopping half an inch long. But if you blow them up to dungeon-fighting size, these guys are even scarier than whip scorpions. Pseudoscorpions have paralyzing venom glands in their claws, which automatically means they have the best claws in the arachnid world. Once they get a hold of their now-paralyzed prey, they secrete digestive acid from their mouth-parts, because these arachnids are on a strict smoothie diet thank you very much.

Photos by Kaldari and Christina Menta, both via Wikimedia

Pseudoscorpions have also historically been called land-crabs and lobster-insects by 17th and 18th century naturalists. Some pseudoscorpions ride around on flies, which is kind of terrifying and kind of awesome. The pseudoscorpion you nerds are most likely to encounter is the book scorpion (Chelifer cancroides), which lives in books and eats dust mites.

via Wikimedia

Above: the coolest picture of a pseudoscorpion anyone has ever taken.

The following text in gold is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2018 Jonah Bomgaars.

This clawed creature looks like a giant tailless scorpion

Giant Pseudoscorpion             CR 2

XP 600

N Medium vermin

Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0

DEFENSE

AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 natural)

hp 19 (3d8+6)

Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +1

Immune vermin traits

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft.

Melee 2 claws +3 (1d4+1 plus paralysis), bite -2 (1d2 plus 1d4 acid)

Special Attacks paralysis (DC 13, 1d4+1 rounds), rend (2 claws, 1d4+1)

STATISTICS

Str 12, Dex 14, Con 14, Int --, Wis 10, Cha 2

Base Atk +2; CMB +3; CMD 15 (27 vs trip)

ECOLOGY

Environment any

Organization solitary

Treasure none

Also known as land crabs, these creatures appear similar to scorpions, but with a pear-shaped abdomen that does not end in a stinger-tipped tail. Their claws secrete a paralyzing poison, and they vomit forth caustic acid from their mouths to dissolve their prey.

This giant scorpion has a whip-like tail dripping with acid

Giant Whip Scorpion  CR 2

XP 600

N Medium vermin

Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0

DEFENSE

AC 14, touch 11, flat-footed 13 (+1 Dex, +3 natural)

hp 19 (3d8+6)

Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +1

Immune vermin traits

OFFENSE

Speed 50 ft., climb 20 ft.

Melee 2 claws +3 (1d6+1 plus grab)

Special Attacks acid spray (10 ft. cone, 2d6 acid damage, Reflex DC 13 half, useable once every 1d3 rounds), constrict (1d6+1)

STATISTICS

Str 13, Dex 13, Con 14, Int --, Wis 10, Cha 2

Base Atk +2; CMB +3; CMD 14 (26 vs trip)

ECOLOGY

Environment any warm or underground

Organization solitary

Treasure none

The whip scorpion, or vinegaroon, is not a true scorpion, though they bear many similarities. The key difference is that, in place of a stinging tail, the whip scorpion has a thin, whiplike tendril that it uses to direct a spray of caustic acid.

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Plot Hooks and Encounter Ideas

• Giant book scorpions lurk in the dark recesses of an ancient library.
• The cave that our heroes seek rest in is actually the lair of a giant whip scorpion.

-your phoretic d20 despot