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Animal profile

Emperor Scorpion

Pandinus imperator

ArachnidaHumid tropical rainforest and moist savanna of West Africa, in burrows and under leaf litterLeast Concern

Field profile

The emperor scorpion is one of the largest scorpions in the world, with heavy black pincers and a body that can approach 20 centimetres including the tail. It lives in humid West African forest and savanna, digging burrows and hunting insects and other invertebrates. It is common in the pet trade, which is why it is one of the most-handled scorpions on Earth.

Scope note

This is an editorial profile, not a diagnostic field-identification guide or a substitute for current conservation assessments. Follow the cited sources on each fact for the evidence trail.

Published field notes

2023-02-01

Emperor Scorpion

The largest scorpion has some of the mildest venom

Emperor scorpions are among the heaviest scorpions alive, yet their sting is usually compared to a bee's. Size and danger run in opposite directions across the order: the deadliest scorpions tend to be small, slender-clawed species.

Read with evidence →

Emperor Scorpion | Daily Animal Facts