Emperor scorpion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Emperor Scorpion | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | Scorpionidae |
| Genus: | Pandinus |
| Species: | P. imperator |
| Binomial name | |
| Pandinus imperator (Koch, 1841) |
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The emperor scorpion or imperial scorpion (Pandinus imperator) is a species of scorpion native to Africa. The emperor is one of the largest species of scorpion in the world, with adults averaging about 8 inches (20 cm) in length. However, some species of forest scorpions are its equal and one scorpion, Heterometrus swammerdami, holds the record for being the world's largest scorpion at 9 inches (23 cm) in length.[1] Their life span usually ranges from 5–8 years when held in captivity,[2] but is likely shorter in the wild. The emperor's size, relatively low toxicity, and life span make it the most popular scorpion in the pet trade, which has led to such over-collecting in the wild that it is now a CITES-listed animal, meaning it is threatened with extinction if exportation and other threats, such as development, are not regulated.
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[edit] Prey, predator and defense
In the wild, emperor scorpions are reported to feed primarily on termites. In captivity they readily feed on crickets, cockroaches, and mealworms. Emperor scorpions are also known to eat small mice and lizards. Emperors are burrowing scorpions, digging with the first or first two pairs of legs. A burrow may be little more than a hollow under a rock or may twist and turn more than six feet into the earth. In the wild, emperors are said to burrow into termite mounds and make their homes there.
Emperor scorpions are preyed upon by a huge number of animals, including other scorpions, spiders, parasitic wasps and flies; birds, reptiles and amphibians; mammals such as monkeys, mongooses, and various rodents.
The emperor scorpion, like most scorpions, is timid and reclusive. If given a choice they will spend the vast majority of their time hiding in a burrow, only venturing out to hunt. When frightened the emperor scorpion will run if possible, but if it feels cornered it will enter a 'threat posture'. When threat posturing, the scorpion turns to face its enemy while holding the claws up and open, and arching the tail and stinger over its back. If harassment continues at this point the scorpion is likely to sting, but may also pinch with its claws. The pinch is surprisingly powerful (believed to be capable of breaking a pencil in half) and the sting, although toxic, has varying affects on humans; some report no problems while others suffer severe pain. Emperor scorpion venom contains a toxin called imperatoxin.[3] The sting feels somewhat like a bee sting.
[edit] Reproduction
Emperors, like all scorpions, give live birth to their young. Gestation can last 9 to 18 months depending on temperature and food availability, when an average of 12 young are born. Baby scorpions, called scorplings, are born very vulnerable and unable to fend for themselves. The mother emperor cares for her babies in a number of ways, such as fiercely defending them and killing prey for them. Like all scorpions, the young emperors ride on the mother's back when very small. As they molt and grow, they will begin to venture off their mother's back, explore the world and attempt to catch prey. For a few months the scorplings will return to their mother's back when frightened, until eventually the scorplings make burrows of their own and become independent.
[edit] Commercial use
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Because of its docile nature and mild venom, the emperor has been used in movies such as 1999's The Mummy and The Scorpion King from 2002. As there are currently no laws in the United States protecting invertebrates from abuse or death, their use in the film industry can involve alleged mistreatment, as shown in The Great White Hype, released in 1996.
In their native land of Africa, emperors are used for food by some native tribes. They are also captured for sale into the pet trade, killed for use in the tourist industry, tribal rituals, and homeopathic preparations[citation needed] both in and outside of Africa.
The 2008 movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is one of the few feature films to accurately portray P. imperator as having a mild sting; one of the characters (Shia LaBeouf) is stung, and, after expressing concern about the consequences of a P. imperator sting due to the "huge" size of the scorpion, is told by Indiana Jones, "When it comes to scorpions, the bigger the better. Small one stings you, don't keep it to yourself." Although the P. Imperator sting is relatively mild, there is no general rule relating toxicity to scorpion size.
[edit] Response to UV light
Despite being near-black in color, the emperor glows a bluish-green when exposed to ultra-violet light.[4] Only when a scorpion has recently molted or just after birth doesn't it glow. Wild scorpions are often poached by collectors using hand-held mineral lights to detect them.
[edit] See also
[edit] Citations and footnotes
- ^ (Rubio 2000, "Commonly Available Scorpions" p. 26–27)The Emperor Scorpion can reach an overall length of more than 8 inches (20 cm). It is erroneously claimed to be the largest living scorpion in the world. However, some species of Forest Scorpions are its equal. [...] The Guinness Book of Records claims a Forest Scorpion native to rural India, Heterometrus swammerdami, to be the largest scorpion in the world (9 inches [23 cm]).
- ^ Emperor
- ^ Zamudio FZ, Conde R, Arévalo C, Becerril B, Martin BM, Valdivia HH et al. (1997). "The mechanism of inhibition of ryanodine receptor channels by imperatoxin I, a heterodimeric protein from the scorpion Pandinus imperator.". J Biol Chem 272 (18): 11886-94. PMID 9115249. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=9115249.
- ^ Emperor scorpion under a black light
[edit] References
- Rubio, Manny (2000)
[edit] External links
- Caring for Your Emperor Scorpion
- An example of an Emperor scorpion being handled - site has also information on housing an Emperor scorpion.
- More information about scorpions and pictures of Emperor scorpions with young on the back (scroll down)
- Scorpions of the Genus Pandinus (forum)
- Photos of Emperor scorpion - Pandinus imperator and other scorpions.
