Scorpion du Jour
Pandinus
imperator (Koch, 1842)
- Today's subject is Pandinus imperator (Koch, 1842). I have
no idea what the generic name Pandinus actually means. It
may be derived from "Pan," the Greek god of the
woodlands, and "din -," meaning "terrible." The
specific name, imperator, is from the Latin word meaning "emperor."
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Vital Stats:
Systematics:
- This scorpion is in the family Scorpionidae. Pandinus can
be divided into several subgenera. Pandinus imperator belongs
to the subgenus Pandinus. There are about 24 described species
of Pandinus. All of them are fairly large in size.
Original Description:
- Koch, C. L. 1842. Die Arachniden. Nürnberg, 9:1-102.
Distribution:
-
The actual distribution of this common species is somewhat sketchy. The
center of distribution for the genus appears to be East Africa. Records
I found for Pandinus imperator are quite old and somewhat confusing.
The natural distribution of this species appears to be in West Africa.
Fun Facts:
- Like all Scorpionidae, this species is an obligate burrower. Food
is any animal smaller than themselves. In captivity, they will eat lizards
and small mice. Pandinus imperator is unusually docile and very
slow to sting. Although young emperor scorpions use their stings in a
normal fashion, adults rarely use the sting to subdue prey, prefering
to kill prey with their massive claws. Even when stinging in defense,
adults may not inject venom. Though large in size, this species is not
considered dangerous to humans. Nonetheless, they are venomous. All scorpions
are viviparous, meaning that the babies develop within the mother, gaining
nutrients for growth directly from her, and are born alive. In scorpionid
scorpions, embryonic development is katoikogenic. That means that the
embryos develop within specialized sacs on the female's overiuterus.
A highly specialized structure connects the embryo's mouth to the female's
digestive system. Parental care seems to be very important in this species.
The young seem to exhibit increased survival when maintained together
in family groups. Pandinus imperator is a very popular and common
pet scorpion. They don't make much noise and are very good with children.
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- Disclaimer: The views expressed here are mine
alone and do not represent the views of the Department of the Army
or the Smithsonian Institution... or anybody else for that matter.
- Dr. Scott A. Stockwell
