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Emperor Scorpion Fast Facts What do they look like? Emperor scorpions are one of the largest scorpion species. They average 4-6 inches but have been recorded up to 9 inches long. They are arachnids, meaning they are related to spiders. They have two main body parts, eight legs, enlarged food-handling pincers, and a segmented tail with a telson and sting at the end of it. Their exoskeleton is black and they glow bright teal under ultra-violet light! They have poor eyesight but an excellent sense of touch via hairs which detect vibrations though the ground or in the air. How do they behave? Common Name: Emperor Scorpion, Imperial Scorpion Scientific Name: Pandinus imperator Family: Scorpionidae Order: Scorpiones Class: Arachnida Range: Western Africa Emperor scorpions are reclusive animals, though they are relatively social when compared to other scorpion species and often live in small family groups. They spend the majority of their time in long underground burrows (up to 6ft) that they dig with their first two pairs of legs. When threatened, the scorpion will face the threat with open claws and arched tail. If further harassed, the scorpion is likely to pinch or sting. What’s on the menu? These scorpions are nocturnal, emerging at night to hunt insects and other invertebrates. Occasionally they will feed on small vertebrates, such as small lizards or mice. At the Zoo, they eat crickets. How are they born? Emperor scorpions engage in a mating dance in which the male grasps the female’s pincers while moving around. He will decide on a location in which to deposit his sperm sac, and then guide the female to the same location. The eggs are fertilized internally, and females will give birth to live young rather than laying eggs. Gestation is highly variable depending on ambient temperature, food availability, and stress factors. On average, 8-30 scorplings are born after a 7-10 month long gestation. Females provide extraordinary care to their young. After birth, she will carry all of them on her back until their first molt. She will catch and shred insects to feed them and will aggressively defend her brood. How strong is their sting? Habitat: Tropical forests and savannahs Lifespan: 5-8 years in captivity, less in the wild Conservation Status: Near Threatened Scorpions have an inverse relationship between venom potency and pincher size. Scorpions with potent venom have smaller pincers while scorpions with less toxic venom have larger pincers to compensate. Emperor scorpion stings are typically mild, comparable to a bee sting. However, their pincers are large and strong. How can you help? Due to their relatively docile nature, this species is the most common scorpion kept as pets. However, over-collection of wild specimens has substantially affected African populations. If you are looking to acquire an emperor scorpion as a pet, make sure it has not been collected from the wild. These scorpions breed readily in captivity and acquiring a captive bred animal helps protect remaining wild populations.