Source: Wikimedia Commons
Dictator Scorpion
AdvancedPandinus dictator
A large black scorpion of the humid forests of west-central Africa, close to the emperor scorpion and equipped with massive pedipalp pincers. It is listed on CITES Appendix II, so international trade requires permits.
Difficulty
Advanced
Lifespan
6-9 years
Size
12-20cm total length (guideline for the genus Pandinus)
Humidity
80%
Diet
Live insects such as crickets
About
Pandinus dictator is a scorpionid of west-central Africa, with GBIF records from Gabon, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Described by Pocock in 1888, its currently valid name is Pandinopsis dictator, but it appears in the CITES appendices under the original combination Pandinus dictator. Pandinus and its close relatives are dark-coloured scorpions with massive pedipalp pincers set against a slender metasoma with a small vesicle and sting. They carry a stridulatory organ formed by a rough area on the pedipalp coxa and a scraper of bristles on the first walking legs, which they rub together to produce sound. Venom in the family is mild, the symptoms being largely local pain comparable to a bee sting, and no human fatalities are known, though the defensive behaviour of species other than P. imperator has not been studied in detail. The genus lives in humid tropical lowland forest and gallery forest along rivers and favours soft, loamy soils.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lifespan of the Dictator Scorpion
The Dictator Scorpion lives 6-9 years.
Size of the Dictator Scorpion
The Dictator Scorpion grows to 12-20cm total length (guideline for the genus Pandinus).
Basic Info
Origin
West-central Africa; GBIF records from Gabon, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Lifespan
6-9 years
Size
12-20cm total length (guideline for the genus Pandinus)
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Pandinus dictator Pocock, 1888
Authority databases: GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
CITES Appendix II
Sources: CITES Appendix II (Scorpionidae: Pandinus dictator)
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Dictator Scorpion Listings
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