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.
Emperor Scorpion, stock photo

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