Emperor Scorpion

ANIMAL:
Emperor Scorpion Pandinus imperator

Type of Animal:
Scorpion

Habitat:
Burrows and/or under debris/litter/rocks/logs/mounds/roots in forests, savannas, areas of human habitation, & under stream banks

Location(s):
W & W.C. Africa

Appearance:
Very large scorpion, front part of body has 4 sections, each w/ pair of legs, comb-like structures called pectines behind 4th pair of legs, long curvy tail, sharp curved stinger in back, 2 pairs of large blackish-red pincers in front, shiny black body most often but range from dark brown to dark green, become darker w/ age, scorplings born white & transparent

Food/Diet:
Insects, insect larvae, lizards (sometimes in fights to death w/ whoever dies 1st being eaten), rodents (sometimes in fights to death w/ whoever dies 1st being eaten), spiders, smaller scorpions (even though somewhat social-cannibalism not uncommon) & , small snakes

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding from zoos & breeders. Bred for pet trade.

Lifestyle:
Solitary or colonies of 3-15 scorpions

Additional Info:

Called:
Male
Female
Young: Scorpling
Group: Colony
 
Weight:
Male: 0.8 oz
Female: 1 oz
 
Gestation:
7-14 months

Life Span:
5-8 years

Body Length:
Male: 6 in
Female: 8 in

Tail Length:
Male: 3 in
Female: 4 in

Main predators are birds, spiders, omnivorous/carnivorous mammals, snakes, lizards, centipedes, larger scorpions (often of same species), parasitic wasps, & amphibians.
 
Active at night (nocturnal).
 
Sexually mature at 4 months old.
 
Like most scorpions, they’re viviparous, giving birth to live young. Females typically give birth to 9-12 young. Some litters have as many as 35 scorplings.
 
Like all scorpions, uses sensory hairs to detect ground/air vibrations.
 
Poor eyesight but good hearing & sense of touch.
 
Must predigest food before eating, so they secrete digestive enzymes onto prey, liquefying it.
 
Scorplings stay w/ mom for 1st few months of life, often traveling on her back.
 
Also called Imperial Scorpion.
 
During courtship, male grasps female, holding/pushing her around until he finds suitable mating spot. When he finds spot, he deposits sperm onto solid substrate & pulls her over his sperm.
 
Young molt several times before maturity.

Fun Fact(s):
Molecule called scorpine isolated from venom may have anti-malarial & anti-bacterial properties.
 
Most popular pet scorpion due to docile temperament & mild venom.
 
Since they’re large scorpions, adults prefer defending themselves/killing prey w/ nonvenomous pincers rather than venomous stinger. Juveniles rely more on stingers. While painful, sting isn’t deadly unless someone’s allergic.
 
Can reflect UV rays, so sometimes they glow in blue hue.