Emperor Scorpion
Pandinus imperator (Koch, 1842)
Range: West Africa
Habitat: Tropical Forest, Savannah
Diet: Insects (especially termites), other terrestrial invertebrates. Occasionally small lizards and rodents. Cannibalism has been observed
Social Grouping: Loose colonies of up to 15
Reproduction: Breeding occurs year round. Males grasp females by the pincers and mock sting them before depositing sperm (sometimes the male is eaten by the female following breeding). Gestation 9 months. Female gives live birth to 10-12 young (resembling tiny versions of their parents), which are carried on her back. Sexually mature at 4 years old.
Lifespan: 8 Years
Conservation Status: CITES Appendix II
- One of the largest scorpion species in the world, measuring an average of 20 centimeters long and weighing 30 grams
- Body is shiny black, with an underlying white membrane that is sometimes visible in gravid females when their bodies are stretched out by pregnancy
- Armed with two large pincers (called pedipalps) in front of four pairs of legs and a tail that terminates with a stinger. Behind the last pair of legs is a sensory structure used for sensing features of the terrain, called pectines. Sensory hairs over the body detect vibrations in the air on on the ground
- Primarily nocturnal. Often found buried in the leaf litter, in loose soil, or in termite mounds, which are favored hunting grounds
- Juveniles primarily rely on the venom of their sting to capture prey. Adults rely more on their powerful claws, which can rip prey apart
- Popular in the pet trade due to large size and fearsome appearance coupled with a mild venom and generally placid demeanor (can be handled readily)
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