[1][2] This species is endemic to tropical western Africa, from Togo to Cameroon.

These large and sturdy built insects are characterized by an elongated head, a relatively narrow neck and a rigid, prominent, segmented, tubular mouthparts or proboscis (also called rostrum).

They show a very prominent crown of thorns on thorax and red and black warning colors on the edge of the abdomen (laterotergites).

The growth lasts between six and eight months and the young will make six moults to reach the adult stage.

[3][4] These terrestrial ambush predators live hidden in timber or dead trees during the day, coming out at night[3] to feed on their prey, that they kill with the venom injected by their rigid rostrum.