Emperor Black Scorpion - Imperial Scorpion

Emperor Black Scorpion - Imperial Scorpion 

Kingdom: Animalia 
Phylum:  Arthropoda 
Subphylum:  Chelicerata 
Class:  Arachnida 
Order:  Scorpiones 
Family:  Scorpionidae 
Genus:  Pandinus 
Species:  imperator

Emperor black scorpions live in the hot, humid rainforests of the coastal countries of
western Africa from Senegal to the Congo to Gabon.

Emperor black scorpions are the largest, but not the longest, of the scorpion species.  The body, including the tail, can reach up to 6.5 inches in length.  Its weight varies, but can be up to 1.1 ounces. Emperors are glossy black, but can be dark brown to green.  The stinger and claws can also be red colored.  Their overall color gets darker after each molt.  This dark coloring also acts as camouflage. Whitish membranes connect the various body segments and expand in pregnant females.  They have large fat pinchers, 4 pairs of legs, and a long tail tipped by a venom gland and a stinger. Comb-like structures behind their 4th pair of legs are used to sense the texture of the ground. These structures are larger on males than females.  Like all scorpions, they use sensory hairs to detect ground and air vibrations.  They have poor eyesight, good hearing, and a good sense of touch. Scorpions grow and shed their entire exoskeleton several times before they are full-grown.  As adults, they are hard to distinguish from a distance, since males and females act and look similar. Males can be smaller and narrower.

The lifespan in captivity is 5-8 years

Males are territorial and will fight to the death.  They spend much of their time looking for females with which to mate.

They may rest in a burrow waiting until prey comes close to ambush it, or they may actively hunt their prey. As they lie in wait, potential prey creates vibrations the scorpions can sense.  They quickly strike with the stinger or grasp the victim.  Larger emperor scorpions rarely use their stinger to capture prey; instead they crush it with their claws.  Smaller and younger ones rely on their stingers to subdue their prey.  Scorpions must predigest their food before they consume it.  Once subdued, they secrete digestive enzymes onto the prey which liquefies it.

In the Wild they feed on  mice, baby lizards, arthropods and other scorpions, any other animals they can successfully subdue

Did You Know?/Fun Facts 
1. The emperor black scorpion is also known as the “imperial scorpion.” 


2. Scorpions are ancient arachnids, having been on Earth for over 400 million years. 


3. To conserve energy in times of famine (food shortages), scorpions can slow down their metabolism.  


4. They do not need to drink water, since they get all they need from their food.  Their feces consists of a dry, powder-like substance. 


5. Even though they are cold-blooded, scorpions can be cooled to below freezing, or endure the blistering heat of the desert. 


6. The sting of most scorpions is only as harmful as a bee sting.  Even though large, heavy, and terrifying in appearance, the emperor’s sting is not lethal (deadly). 


7. Scorpions are in the same family as spiders, ticks, and mites.  They are not insects. 


8. Emperor black scorpions are popular as pets because of their docile (calm) nature. 


9. Emperor scorpions fluoresce to a greenish-blue under black UV lights.