{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "scorpion",
  "name": "Emperor Scorpion",
  "scientificName": "Pandinus imperator",
  "category": "Invertebrate",
  "summary": "The emperor scorpion is one of the largest scorpions in the world, a glossy black arachnid native to the rainforests of West Africa. It has large pincers, eight legs, and a curved tail tipped with a stinger, and its body glows blue-green under ultraviolet light. Despite its fearsome look, its venom is mild, and it is a popular, docile pet that can live 6 to 8 years.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Arthropoda",
    "class": "Arachnida",
    "order": "Scorpiones",
    "family": null,
    "genus": null
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 0.03,
    "lengthM": 0.2,
    "topSpeedKmh": 2,
    "lifespanYears": 8
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Pandinus imperator"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore (insects, spiders, small vertebrates)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Rainforests and savannas of West Africa"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "6–8 years"
    },
    {
      "label": "Size",
      "value": "Up to 20 cm (8 in) long"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Slow walker; fast pincer strikes"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Rainforests and savannas of West Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana, and Togo.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Pandinus imperator.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Pandinus%20imperator&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Pandinus imperator. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pandinus_imperator/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Emperor Scorpion.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_scorpion"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/scorpion/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/scorpion/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}