Scorpions and snakes abound here. Below are a few pics of some 'locals' that have been caught and are kept for educational purposes. Generally the bugs leave each other alone (until they become hungry.) And 'generally' it's not the big knarly scorpions you need to worry about as the smaller ones typically have a deadlier sting. Since it's cooled down you also notice a lot more geckos running around everywhere here. Bigger bugs will soon follow and then we'll see more snakes and small mamals. In a few months there'll be a lot more jackel sightings as well. If you see one jackel, generally you don't need to be worried, but 20 jackels will form a 'pack' and attack. Supposidely there are hyneas here in southern Iraq as well but I've never seen any.