Editing Emperor scorpion

{{Short description|Species of scorpion}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Female Emperor Scorpion.jpg
| status = CITES_A2
| status_system = CITES
| status_ref = <ref name="CITES"/>
| genus = Pandinus
| species = imperator
| authority = ([[Carl Ludwig Koch|Koch]], 1842)
}}
[[File:Emperor Scorpion Under UV Light.jpg|thumb|right|Emperor scorpions [[fluoresce]] under UV light.]]

[[File:Stinger of wild Pandinus imperator.jpg|thumb|Stinger of wild Pandinus imperator in southern Ghana]]
The '''emperor scorpion''' '''''(Pandinus imperator)''''' is a [[species]] of [[scorpion]] native to rainforests and savannas in [[West Africa]]. It is one of the largest scorpions in the world and lives for six to eight years. Its body is black, but like other scorpions it glows pastel green or blue under [[ultraviolet light]]. It is a popular species in the [[pet trade]], and is protected by [[CITES]] to prevent over-collecting that might affect the species' survival.

==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>

==Habitat and distribution==
The emperor scorpion is an African rainforest species,<ref>{{cite book |author1=Rod Preston-Mafham |author2=Ken Preston-Mafham |year=1993 |title=The Encyclopedia of Land Invertebrate Behaviour |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofla0000pres |url-access=registration |publisher=[[MIT Press]] |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |isbn=978-0-262-16137-4}}</ref> but also present in [[savanna]]. It is found in a number of African countries, including [[Benin]], [[Burkina Faso]], [[Côte d’Ivoire]], [[Gambia]], [[Ghana]], [[Guinea]], [[Guinea-Bissau]], [[Togo]], [[Liberia]], [[Mali]], [[Nigeria]], [[Senegal]], [[Sierra Leone]] and [[Cameroon]].<ref name="ARKive"/>

This species inhabits both [[tropical forest]] and open savannas. The emperor scorpion burrows beneath the soil and hides beneath rocks and debris,<ref name="AIC"/> and also often burrows in [[termite mound]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scorpion Systematics Research Group |publisher=[[American Museum of Natural History]] |date=November 2008 |url=http://scorpion.amnh.org/index.html |access-date=October 20, 2011}}</ref>

==Feeding habits==
In the wild, emperor scorpions primarily consume insects and other terrestrial invertebrates, although termites constitute a large portion of their diet. Larger vertebrates, such as rodents and lizards, are occasionally eaten. Emperor scorpions will burrow through termite mounds up to 6 feet deep in order to hunt prey. Their large claws help in tearing apart prey while their tail stinger injects venom at the same time for liquifying food. Juveniles rely on their venomous sting to paralyze prey while adults use their large claws to tear apart prey.

==Conservation and human impact==
<gallery>
File:Emperor scorpion feeding.jpg|Young female emperor scorpion kept as a pet
File:Emperor Scorpion in hand John.jpg|''P. imperator'' is very docile and tolerant of human contact.
</gallery>
African emperor scorpion [[venom]] contains the toxins [[imperatoxin]]<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Fernando Z. Zamudio |author2=Renaud Conde |author3=Carolina Arévalo |author4=Baltazar Becerril |author5=Brian M. Martin |author6=Hector H. Valdivia |author7=Lourival D. Possani |year=1997 |title=The mechanism of inhibition of ryanodine receptor channels by imperatoxin I, a heterodimeric protein from the scorpion ''Pandinus imperator'' |journal=[[Journal of Biological Chemistry]] |volume= 272 |issue= 18 |pages=11886–11894 |doi=10.1074/jbc.272.18.11886 |pmid=9115249|doi-access=free }}</ref> and [[pandinotoxin]].

Due to its docile nature, large size, and hardiness, ''P.&nbsp;imperator'' is a popular [[scorpion]] in the pet trade, which has led to such over-collecting in the wild that it is now a [[CITES]]-listed [[animal]].<ref name="CITES">{{cite web|author=UNEP-WCMC|author-link=UNEP-WCMC|access-date=11 June 2011 |work=UNEP-WCMC Species Database: CITES-Listed Species |url=http://www.unep-wcmc-apps.org/isdb/CITES/Taxonomy/tax-species-result.cfm/isdb/CITES/Taxonomy/tax-species-result.cfm?displaylanguage=eng&Genus=Pandinus&Species=imperator&source=animals&Country=&tabname=names |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807070357/http://www.unep-wcmc-apps.org/isdb/CITES/Taxonomy/tax-species-result.cfm/isdb/CITES/Taxonomy/tax-species-result.cfm?displaylanguage=eng&Genus=Pandinus&Species=imperator&source=animals&Country=&tabname=names |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 August 2011 |title=''Pandinus imperator'' (Koch, 1841) }}</ref> They feed readily on crickets and worms available to keepers, and they can live up to 8 years in captivity. 

Despite their imposing size, emperor scorpion stings are usually mild, their venom does not cause severe symptoms in most people.

==References==
{{Refbegin}}{{ARKive attribute}}{{Refend}}
{{Reflist|32em}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Arthropods}}
*{{Commons category-inline|Pandinus imperator|''Pandinus imperator''}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1142349}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Emperor Scorpion}}
[[Category:Scorpionidae]]
[[Category:Scorpions of Africa]]
[[Category:Animals described in 1842]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Ludwig Koch]]