Close Encounter by Meisiekind
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Description
This post is not about an amazing image - in fact, it is a rather bad image!!! The reason - I was trying to run away AND capture this scorpion... at the same time!
Let me explain! While in the Namib Desert in March, I parked the car and just ventured into the desert in the middle of nowhere taking pictures. I was on top of a small hill. Now, just for the record, I was wearing flip flops! Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I detected movement and when I looked, this critter was running towards me - no more than 1 meter away from me. Well, I turned around and ran, stopping ever so often to shoot off a couple of images. He stayed with me!! Now, he wasn't really chasing me, he was merely trying to hide in my shadow, but it sounds more dangerous when I say he was chasing me!!!! LOL...
Anyway, luckily he moved when he did and I managed not to step on him because if I had stepped on him, his sting could have caused a mild case of death. He was tiny - the body length from head to where the tail starts was no more than 4cm! They are extremely poisonous and if you do not get immediate medical attention you could die! We were about 40 miles from the nearest doctor and about 80 miles from the nearest hospital.
The name of the species slipped my mind but I'm sure Piet and many others familiar with this Namib scorpion will let us know soon enough!
Anyway - thank for popping in and for your very kind comments and favs on my Little Waterfall unload.
Have a great weekend!
Hugs, Carin xx
Comments (43)
is there a mild state of death?I thought all were final!sure happy you were not stung and I would have not been so kind. excellent presentation
Hi Carin ;O) Oopssssssssssssssssssss you are really brave... ;O) Thanks for sharing!
Stunning capture Carin.I would have been running as well if i have seen one of these critters.
if i were there i would have passed you out running cool capture.
OMG, are they all black like this ?? When I lived in Arizona, I thought the one my boss stomped was white! I know nothing about these things, other than they do cause a mild case of death rofl sooo glad you got outta there okay and managed still to capture this photo! GOOD JOB! that's what I call determination! LOL I have to say though, its kinda cute that he tries hiding in your shadow :) :) Thank u so much for sharing this with us ... now get them knee high boots on next time u go out like that .. LOL that's what piet said I'd be made to do if I visit! :)
wow! awesome adventure!
klasse aufnahmen greetings York Made in Berlin
I hear the smaller they are the nastier they are. That pretty frog I posted was also a killer apparently and I was also trying to get photo's but avoid contact so I know how it feels lol
AAARGH ! That was really a shot. MAMMA MIA. How brave you are taking such a close shot. COngratulations. .-)))
O boy - I would have just fainted..... !!
LOL Helle - Brave, maybe, but I was about 1.5 meters away when I took this shot! It is zoomed my friend!!! Hugs, Carin
Really an impressive shot of this dangerous guy. Bravo!!
Great shot and I'm glad you survived the close encounter!
Great story and illustration. A mild case of death-- that's so descriptive.
A great shot; look at the little red hairs on his tail! Brave work, Carin; I'm not sure I'd have even tried!
WOAH!...What a neat capture, applause for you guts and determination!
What an amazing image, really impressive!!
"a mild state of death"??? You do have a way with words, girlfriend!!!! I had close encounter with one of these in Mexico--put my blouse on one morning, felt something weird and there was one crawling on, well, rather sensitive part of my anatomy. Needless to say, I reacted with a great deal of noise and movement, and lived to tell the tale. I do NOT like these creatures!! BTW, you do a great job of running and shooting~~~ the consummate photographer!!!
the scorpion is my astrological sign, but I do not think that I'm so poisonous! ;) You have had great courage to take this photo! Excellent capture! :)
Ahhh, Buthidea is the name of the game Carin, a slightly deadly species! I am sure you were lucky not to have stepped on it accidentally because tourists do not wear protective shoes, I know, just see Shari's comment. Excellent detail.
Splendid composition and colors my friend
Its tail looks like a bottle brush Carin, but I wouldn't want a close encounter with it. Excellent work and story. Bravo!!!!!
I believe Chaosphoto is correct as a whole. At least it is the rule of thumb we use here in the US. The small the species, the more poisonous. The white ones that Shari mentions come in two sizes that are common in the Sonoran desert. One is large, about 3 inches long in a natural pose and those are not bad. I have seen many people get stung while letting them crawl on their arm. Not the smaller white one is another story. Hurts like fire to get stung and does considerable damage to human tissue. However, the only way a scorpion here will kill you with a sting is if you have a lessened immune system or are frail to begin with. They do damage more like a rattlesnake bite or blackwidow spider bite where the tissue dies around the area of the injury (or in the case of the rattlesnake, you have a strong allergic reaction or are in poor health to start with) I have kept several tanks in the house over the years of both types of our white scorpions for observation and they are fascinating. I also had some of our smaller black ones but they are not so interesting... I am glad to learn about the danger of this type because, one day, when I come to visit and see your country, I will have to pack a pair of real shoes since I always wear flip-flops and leave the shoes at home. :-)
Well that the "hunter" did not get you! wonderful and very interesting photo!!!
Now that you have told me the story and the fact that I'm a big softy anyway, I think I wouldn't have hung around to take shots BUT (Exclamation mark!) we are very different people when we are armed with a camera lol, anything to get that shot!!! Well done to you and very brave of you Carin.
My word, he does certainly look menacing, especially in black! Great shot and great story to go with it, Carin, glad you ended the day safe and sound! My husband got bit by one on his hand which swelled up something awful and hurt like he**!!
But you got the shot! First things first, eh!
Wow, lucky escape and a fantastic real danger shot.
A good scare is worth more to a person than good advice. Rule of the Day: never venture into the Namib Desert wearing flip-flops. A recipe for disaster. Dress for the area. High top boots are the order of the day in those parts. And, I've read the smaller scorpion of the species is the deadliest. And, is there anything MrsLubner hasn't done or places she hasn't been? With that said, stellar capture under most hazardous conditions in this foto, Carin! The ground has the texture of a granola bar.
Great story, I have a freind who would love him.