Paravaejovis spinigerus is a medium-sized scorpion with large adult males and females reaching nearly 60–70 mm, weighing approximately 9.5 g.[2] It can be differentiated from the Arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus) by the brownish-tan stripes on the back of its tail along the keels or ridges; the tail is typically thicker than the hands and pedipalps, both of which are quite slender in the bark scorpions.

Some others may have a base color of light yellow/golden brown with variable underlying ducky markings along its tail.

[3] The name spinigerus is derived from the spiniform granules at the ends of the dorsal keels of the tail.

[4] Paravaejovis spinigerus is found in the Sonoran desert of north-western Mexico (Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur) and the south-western United States (Arizona, New Mexico and parts of California), where it is commonly found under rocks and surface objects, such as sleeping bags or shoes, or on sandy soils in a variety of habitats, from desert floor to rocky hillsides.

[6] Pallid bats, "sand-swimmer" snakes, spiders, centipedes, lizards, birds, mammals and other scorpions all prey on Paravaejovis spinigerus.