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.
