Editing Emperor scorpion (section)

==Description==
[[File:Emperor scorpion or Imperial scorpion (Pandinus imperator).jpg|thumb|right|An emperor scorpion on sand.]]
The emperor scorpion (''Pandinus imperator'') is one of the largest species of scorpion in the world, with adults averaging about {{convert|20|cm}} in length and a weight of 30 g.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090129081549/http://www.arkive.org/emperor-scorpion/pandinus-imperator/ ARKive]</ref> However, some species of forest scorpions are fairly similar to the emperor scorpion in size, and one scorpion, ''[[Heterometrus swammerdami]]'', holds the record for being the world's largest scorpion at 9&nbsp;inches (23&nbsp;cm) in length.<ref>{{cite book |author=Manny Rubio |year=2000 |title=Scorpions: Everything About Purchase, Care, Feeding, and Housing |chapter=Commonly Available Scorpions |pages=[https://archive.org/details/scorpionscomplet00mann/page/26 26–27] |publisher=Barron's Educational Series |isbn=978-0-7641-1224-9 |quote=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. [...] Emperor scorpions have the same venom as a bee.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]). |chapter-url-access=registration |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/scorpionscomplet00mann/page/26 }}</ref> The large pincers are blackish-red and have a granular texture. The front part of the body, or [[prosoma]], is made up of four sections, each with a pair of legs. Behind the fourth pair of legs are comb-like structures known as [[Pecten (biology)|pectines]], which tend to be longer in males than in females. The tail, known as the [[metasoma]], is long and curves back over the body. It ends in the large receptacle containing the venom glands and is tipped with a sharp, curved [[stinger]]. Scorpion stings can be categorized as mild (similar to a bee sting) to severe to humans depending on the species. Most people are not severely affected by the emperor scorpion's sting, though some people may be allergic to scorpion stings in general.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.petco.com/caresheets/invertebrates/Scorpion_Emperor.pdf|title=Scorpion Emperor Care Sheet|publisher=Petco|year=2004|access-date=2012-03-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090711054614/http://www.petco.com/caresheets/invertebrates/Scorpion_Emperor.pdf|archive-date=2009-07-11|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sensory hairs cover the pincers and tail, enabling the emperor scorpion to detect prey through vibrations in the air and ground.<ref name="AIC">{{cite web |publisher=The Animal Information Centre |date=March 2005 |url=https://www.angelfire.com/mo2/animals1/scorpion/empscorp.html |title=Emperor Scorpion |access-date=2011-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054329/http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/animals1/scorpion/empscorp.html |archive-date=2013-09-21 |url-status=live }}</ref>

When gravid (pregnant), the body of a female expands to expose the whitish membranes connecting the segments. The emperor scorpion fluoresces greenish-blue under [[ultra-violet]] light.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=The Big Zoo |date=March 2005 |url=http://www.thebigzoo.com/Animals/Emperor_Scorpion.asp |title=Emperor Scorpion |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804225348/http://www.thebigzoo.com/Animals/Emperor_Scorpion.asp |archive-date=2011-08-04 }}</ref><ref name="ARKive">{{ARKive|emperor-scorpion|pandinus-imperator}} Accessed October 20, 2011.</ref>

They are known for their docile behavior and almost harmless sting; they do not use their sting to defend themselves when they are adults, however, they may use it in their adolescent stages. They prefer to use their pincers to crush and dismember their prey. Their exoskeleton is very [[Sclerite|sclerotic]], causing them to have a metallic greenish-black color.

Emperor scorpions are often confused with a similar genus (''[[Heterometrus]]''), and are one of the most famous scorpions.

Different [[:Category:Ion channel toxins|ion channel toxins]] have been isolated from the venom of the emperor scorpion, including Pi1,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Olamendi-Portugal|first1=T.|last2=Gómez-Lagunas|first2=F.|last3=Gurrola|first3=G. B.|last4=Possani|first4=L. D.|date=1996-05-01|title=A novel structural class of K+-channel blocking toxin from the scorpion Pandinus imperator|pmid=8645186|journal=The Biochemical Journal|volume=315|pages=977–981|issn=0264-6021|pmc=1217303|issue=3|doi=10.1042/bj3150977}}</ref> Pi2,<ref name="Gómez-Lagunas 49–56">{{Cite journal|last1=Gómez-Lagunas|first1=F.|last2=Olamendi-Portugal|first2=T.|last3=Zamudio|first3=F. Z.|last4=Possani|first4=L. D.|date=1996-07-01|title=Two novel toxins from the venom of the scorpion Pandinus imperator show that the N-terminal amino acid sequence is important for their affinities towards Shaker B K+ channels|pmid=8660410|journal=The Journal of Membrane Biology|volume=152|issue=1|pages=49–56|issn=0022-2631|doi=10.1007/s002329900084|s2cid=20551964}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Klenk|first1=K. C.|last2=Tenenholz|first2=T. C.|last3=Matteson|first3=D. R.|last4=Rogowski|first4=R. S.|last5=Blaustein|first5=M. P.|last6=Weber|first6=D. J.|date=2000-03-01|title=Structural and functional differences of two toxins from the scorpion Pandinus imperator|pmid=10707030|journal=Proteins|volume=38|issue=4|pages=441–449|issn=0887-3585|doi=10.1002/(sici)1097-0134(20000301)38:4<441::aid-prot9>3.0.co;2-l}}</ref> [[Pandinus imperator (Pi3) toxin|Pi3]],<ref name="Gómez-Lagunas 49–56"/> [[Pandinus imperator toxin (Pi4)|Pi4]]<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Olamendi-Portugal|first1=T.|last2=Gómez-Lagunas|first2=F.|last3=Gurrola|first3=G. B.|last4=Possani|first4=L. D.|date=1998-05-01|title=Two similar peptides from the venom of the scorpion Pandinus imperator, one highly effective blocker and the other inactive on K+ channels|pmid=9655636|journal=Toxicon|volume=36|issue=5|pages=759–770|issn=0041-0101|doi=10.1016/s0041-0101(97)00163-3}}</ref> and Pi7.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Delepierre|first1=M.|last2=Prochnicka-Chalufour|first2=A.|last3=Boisbouvier|first3=J.|last4=Possani|first4=L. D.|date=1999-12-21|title=Pi7, an orphan peptide from the scorpion Pandinus imperator: a 1H-NMR analysis using a nano-NMR Probe|pmid=10606507|journal=Biochemistry|volume=38|issue=51|pages=16756–16765|issn=0006-2960|doi=10.1021/bi991685m}}</ref>