Emperor Scorpion

Pandinus imperator

One of the world's largest scorpions, a shiny black West African scorpion that glows under UV light and uses its huge pincers more than its sting.

🕷️ Arachnids

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About the Emperor Scorpion

Emperor scorpions are one of the largest scorpions in the world, averaging about 8 inches long. They are shiny black with two huge pincers, eight legs and a tail ending in a stinger. They live in tropical forests of West Africa, including Nigeria, Togo, Sierra Leone, Ghana and the Congo region, and eat insects, especially termites, and other arthropods.^[1][2]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Pandinus imperator^[2]
Size: About 8 inches long on average.^[2]
Diet: Carnivore. Insects, especially termites, and other arthropods.^[2]
Habitat: Tropical forests and rainforest.^[1]
Where it lives: West Africa.^[2]
Group life: Nocturnal.^[2]
Conservation status: Not evaluated by the IUCN.^[1]

Fun facts

Emperor scorpions glow under UV light.^[1]
They use their pincers more than their stingers.^[1]
Mothers carry babies on their backs.^[1]

Vocabulary

arachnid: An animal with eight legs and two body parts, such as a spider or scorpion.
pincer: A claw that can grab and squeeze.
ultraviolet: A kind of light that people can't see.
telson: The stinger at the end of a scorpion's tail.
nocturnal: Active mainly at night.

See it in person

Oakland ZooOakland, California · House of BugsSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Oakland Zoo. “Emperor Scorpion.” https://www.oaklandzoo.org/animals/emperor-scorpion/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan. “Emperor scorpion (Pandinus imperator).” https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pandinus_imperator/ (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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