The Buthidae are the largest family of scorpions, containing about 80 genera and over 800 species as of mid-2008. Its members are known as, for example, fat-tailed scorpions and bark scorpions. 

 

New taxa are being described at a rate of several to several dozen new species per year.  They occur in the warmer parts of every major landmass on Earth, except on New Zealand.  The family was established by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1837.

 

In dead specimens, the spine beneath the stinger, characteristic for this family, can be observed.