Emperor scorpion

Pandinus imperator · The emperor scorpion is one of the world's largest scorpions, living in the rainforests and savannas of West Africa.

Emperor scorpion
Photo: Ltshears, CC BY-SA 3.0
Emperor scorpion
Photo: George Chernilevsky, Public domain
Emperor scorpion
Photo: Emőke Dénes, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumArthropoda
ClassArachnida
OrderScorpiones
FamilyScorpionidae
GenusPandinus
SpeciesPandinus imperator

Where it lives

Rainforests and savannas of West Africa, from Sierra Leone to Togo.

Fun facts

  • Although its body is black, the emperor scorpion glows pastel green or blue under ultraviolet light.
  • Emperor scorpions will burrow through termite mounds up to 6 feet deep to hunt prey.
  • Sensory hairs on the pincers and tail let the emperor scorpion detect prey through vibrations in the air and ground.
  • Adult emperor scorpions don't use their sting to defend themselves, but young ones may.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).