Emperor Scorpion

Emperor Scorpion

The exotic invertebrate I chose to do my presentation on is the emperor scorpion, or scientifically known as the Pandinus Imperator. This unique creature belongs to the phylum “Arthropoda” and to the class “Arachnid.” Some other animals in this class are mites, ticks and spiders. An adult emperor scorpion averages approximately 20 centimeters across in size. The life span of the emperor scorpions usually ranges in between 5 and 8 years. The colours of these scorpions can be seen to be either a bluish green or brownish black. It has bilateral symmetry and 3 germ layers and is protosome meaning its mouth grows before it's anus.

Body Structure-The Emperor scorpion consists of two claws like pincers that are of a gritty texture. These scorpions rarely use there tail to sting but instead use their strong claws to catch and hold prey. The front part of the body is known as the prosoma. This part of the body consists of four sections which are connected by a whitish membrane that expands when a female s pregnant. Each section has a pair of legs attached. After the fourth pair of legs, there is the pectine which is a structure similar to a comb. This pectine is longer in males than in females. Finally there is the tail, also known as the metasoma which is a long curving structure that hangs above the rest of the body. Inside it contains venom and when it stings the venom is released into the victim. In most cases the sting of the emperor scorpion is only equivalent to the amount of pain received when stung by a bee, but in some species the pain emitted by the sting can be much more severe. For movement, the emperor scorpion uses it 2 legs per body segment. It crawls along the grounds surface and the tail is used for balance.

                                                          

Digestive/Excretory System-The emperor scorpion eats a variety of things such as locusts, crickets, grasshoppers and even small rodents. Instead of teeth, the emperor scorpion has chelicerae which grind up the food taken in. once the food has been consumed; it goes to the oral cavity which consists of hairs that strain out indigestible food. Then the food passes through the pharynx and then on to the esophagus. After, the food reaches the stomach. In here it is broken down further. Because there is little indigestible matter, there is little fecal matter. But whatever waste is left is removed out the anus.

                                 

Circulatory System-The Emperor scorpion consists of an open circulatory system. Their body contains blood vessels and the blood contains hemocyanin rather than hemoglobin.  The tubular heart of the scorpion runs approximately the length of the metosoma. There are small arteries that carry blood to the nerve cord. The blood vessels pump the blood to the heart.

                 

Respiration System- The type of respiration that the Emperor scorpion uses is book lungs. These book lungs are found just under the abdomen and are inside of hardened pockets. The hemocyanin containing blood circulates throughout the Lamellae. Lamellae are structures which are attacked upon one another with each having a small space of air in between.

               

Reproduction- Like many other organisms, emperor scorpions use pheromones to locate a mating partner. Once located, the male grabs the pincers of the female and begins to do a shaking action called “juddering”. After, the male drops a spermatophore and the female lowers her abdomen to pick up the sperm packet and place it in her genital opening. After seven months, a litter of 14-40 young scorpions are produced. The young spend most of their time on the mothers back.

                                        

Some other interesting facts about the emperor scorpion is that it glows a greenish colour when put underneath an ultra-violet light. Also the Emperor scorpion is the one of the largest mass scorpions but are not the longest. Another interesting fact is that emperor scorpions are white coloured when they are born. Although they have several eyes, they can not see images but cant differ light from dark. The emperor scorpion is noceternal, meaning it hunts at night  and sleeps during the day.

                                 

I don't love the emperor scorpion. I just chose it randomly because we had to pick an invertebrate. At first I thought it was scary/dangerous but then I found out it's a panzy :)