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Minotaurus forest scorpion
IntermediateHeterometrus minotaurus
A black scorpion from southern Thailand with long, slender, heavily granulated pedipalp claws. Described in 2016, it resembles H. longimanus but is somewhat smaller with a shorter tail.
Difficulty
Intermediate
Lifespan
Little data
Size
Total length 83 mm (male holotype)
Diet
Carnivorous (live insects such as crickets and roaches)
About
Heterometrus minotaurus Plíšková, Kovařík, Košulič & Šťáhlavský, 2016 is a scorpion of the family Scorpionidae, described in 2016 from a single male collected in Thailand. The type locality lies at about 400 m in Phanom District, Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand, in a humid spot overgrown with rubber trees and scrub between a stream and a rubber plantation. The male holotype is 83 mm long. The base colour is black with a reddish-brown underside. The pedipalp chelae, patellae and femora are long and slender for the genus, and their granules merge into distinct keels. It is most similar to H. longimanus of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, but differs in its smaller size (that species reaches 9-14 cm), a shorter, broader tail, and nine or fewer granules on the keels of the fourth tail segment. Its diploid chromosome number of 54 is the lowest known in the genus. Most members of the family are considered relatively harmless, but a serious case has been reported for Heterometrus. In Japan several specialist shops sell it, including captive-bred animals.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Size of the Minotaurus forest scorpion
The Minotaurus forest scorpion grows to Total length 83 mm (male holotype).
Basic Info
Origin
Southern Thailand (Surat Thani Province)
Lifespan
Little data
Size
Total length 83 mm (male holotype)
Diet
Carnivorous (live insects such as crickets and roaches)
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.
Primary sources
- Wikipedia
- Ministry of the Environment: List of regulated alien species, including taxa needing an identification certificate (JA)
- Species+ CITES query (not listed)
- Plíšková et al. (2016) Annales Zoologici 66(3) (original description)
- The Scorpion Files: Scorpionidae
- GBIF: Heterometrus minotaurus Plíšková et al., 2016
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Heterometrus minotaurus Plíšková, Kovařík, Košulič & Šťáhlavský, 2016
Authority databases: GBIF · GBIF · Annales Zoologici 66(3) (2016)
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listed
It is not a member of the Buthidae, so it is not a designated invasive alien species in Japan. However, every scorpion species is on Japan's list of taxa that need an identification certificate, so imports must be accompanied by documents certifying the species. It is not listed by CITES (September 2026). Keep it in escape-proof housing and never release captive animals.
Sources: Ministry of the Environment: List of regulated alien species, including taxa needing an identification certificate (JA) / Species+ CITES query (not listed)
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
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