Pandinus

Pandinus is a genus of large scorpions belonging to the family Scorpionidae. It contains one of the most popular pet scorpions, the emperor scorpion (P. imperator). The genus is distributed widely across tropical Africa and the southeastern Arabian Peninsula (Yemen and Saudi Arabia).[1]

Pandinus
Pandinus imperator
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Chelicerata
Class:
Arachinida
Order:
Scorpiones
Family:
Scorpionidae
Subfamily:
Scorpioninae
Genus:
Pandinus

Thorell, 1876
Type species
Buthus imperator
Diversity
5 subgenera, about 21 species

Taxonomy

The genus was introduced in 1876 by Tamerlan Thorell.[2] Subsequent research subdivided the genus into five subgenera,[3][4][5] however recent studies doubt on these subgenera to represent natural groups.[1][6]

Diversity

Currently, 21 species are recognized within this genus:[1][7][8]

Subgenus Pandinus Thorell, 1876
  • Pandinus imperator (C. L. Koch, 1841)
  • Pandinus gambiensis Pocock, 1899
  • Pandinus philippsii (Pocock, 1896)
  • Pandinus smithi (Pocock, 1899)
  • Pandinus trailini (F.Kovařík, 2013)
  • Pandinus mazuchi (F.Kovařík, 2011)

Subgenus Pandinurus Fet, 1997
  • Pandinus arabicus (Kraepelin, 1894)
  • Pandinus exitialis (Pocock, 1888)
  • Pandinus gregoryi (Pocock, 1896)
  • Pandinus magrettii Borelli, 1901
  • Pandinus meidensis Karsch, 1879
  • Pandinus pallidus (Kraepelin, 1894)
  • Pandinus percivali Pocock, 1902
  • Pandinus viatoris (Pocock, 1890)

Subgenus Pandinopsis Vachon, 1974
  • Pandinus dictator (Pocock, 1888)

Subgenus Pandinoides Fet, 1997
  • Pandinus cavimanus (Pocock, 1888)
  • Pandinus platycheles Werner, 1916

Subgenus Pandinops Birula, 1913
  • Pandinus bellicosus (L. Koch, 1875)
  • Pandinus colei (Pocock, 1896)
  • Pandinus eritreaensis Kovařík, 2003
  • Pandinus hawkeri Pocock, 1900
  • Pandinus peeli Pocock, 1900
  • Pandinus pococki Kovařík, 2000

Doubtful species

Pandinus boschisi Caporiacco, 1937, known only from one, presumably lost specimen from Somalia, is considered a nomen dubium.[7]

General characteristics

Members of Pandinus are generally large scorpions (about 120–200 mm total length), which are dark to black colored, sometimes with paler metasoma and legs. The pedipalp pincers are massive, while the metasoma is proportionally thin with a small vesicle and stinger (aculeus). They possess a stridulatory organ, composed of a rough area on the first segment (coxa) of the pedipalps and a 'scraper' made of bristles on the first segment of their first pair of walking legs. Scraping these bristles on the rough zone produces a scratching sound. Genera of the subfamily Scorpioninae are extremely similar to each other and Pandinus is especially close to the Southeast Asian genus Heterometrus. They differ mainly in details of the stridulatory organ and sensory bristles (trichobothria).[1]

Toxicity

As in other Scorpionidae, the venom of Pandinus species is rather mild, human fatalities are unknown. Symptoms are mostly restricted to local pain, described similar to those of a bee sting. At least P. imperator rarely stings at all, and often prefers to use its massive pincers for prey capture and even for defense.[9] The defensive behavior of the other species is not yet studied in detail.[1]

Habitat

Most species live in humid tropical low-land regions. They occur in rain forest, gallery forest near rivers and other woodlands aside of savannah habitats. Arabian species also occur in semiarid climates. Soft, loamy soils seem to be preferred by most species, but ecology is only well known for the forest-living P. imperator.[1]

Conservational status

Three species of Pandinus (P. imperator, P. dictator, and P. gambiensis) are the only scorpions listed by the CITES Appendix II since 1995, due to overexploitation for pet trade from the wild.[10] This total is now four species since, in 2017, the CITES taxonomy of P. imperator was split into P. imperator and P. roeseli. CITES export quotas have been issued for P. imperator by several countries in West Africa (including Benin, Togo, Niger, and Chad).[10]
The CITES listing has been conceptually criticized[1] for protecting three species, of which only one (P. imperator) is frequently exported for international pet trade. However, several other, unprotected species are also harvested for export, especially P. cavimanus and P. viatoris in Tanzania. Even in countries with effective quotas, the origin of traded specimens either from farms or from the wild is hardly traceable. Beside of overharvesting, the species are most endangered by habitat destruction due to deforestation. Traded specimens are sometimes labelled "Pandinus africanus". This name is an invalid synonym for P. imperator and apparently used to avoid CITES regulations for this species. However, other - unlisted - species were also traded under this name.[11]

In captivity

The large size, its docile and gregarious behaviour, partly diurnal activity and mild venom make P. imperator the most popular pet scorpion. After listing of the species in CITES, commercial scorpion farms have been established in several West African countries. A few other species, especially P. cavimanus, are also frequently kept in captivity.

References
  1. Prendini, L., Crowe, T.M. & Wheeler, W.C. (2003). "Systematics and biogeography of the family Scorpionidae (Chelicerata: Scorpiones), with a discussion on phylogenetic methods" (PDF). Invertebrate Systematics. 17 (2): 185–259. doi:10.1071/is02016. Retrieved July 28, 2010.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Thorell, T. (1876). "On the classification of scorpions". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 17 (97): 1–15. doi:10.1080/00222937608681889.
  3. Birula, A.A.B. (1913). "Arachnologische Beiträge. II.–IV. II. Ueber einige Scorpiops-Arten von dem Südabhange des Himalaya. III. Ueber Pandinus (Pandinops) peeli Poc. und seine Verwandten". Russkoe Entomologičeskoe Obozrenie (in German). 13: 416–423.
  4. Vachon, M. (1973) [1974]. "Étude des charactéres utilisés pour classer les familles et les genres de scorpions (Arachnides). 1. La trichobothriotaxonomie en arachnologie. Sigles trichobothriaux et types de trichobothriotaxie chez les scorpions". Bulletin du Muséeum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris (3) (in French). 140: 857–958.
  5. Fet, V. (1997). "Notes on the taxonomy of some old world scorpions (Scorpiones: Buthidae, Chactidae, Ischnuridae, Scorpionidae)". Journal of Arachnology. 25: 245–250.
  6. Kovařík, F. (2009). Illustrated Catalog of Scorpions. Part 1. Prague.
  7. Kovařík, F. (2003). "Scorpions of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia (Arachnida: Scorpiones), with a key and descriptions of three new species" (PDF). Acta Societas Zoologicae Bohemiae. 67: 133–159. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  8. Rein, J. O. (2010). "Scorpionidae Latreille, 1802". The Scorpion Files. Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  9. Rein, J. O. (2000). "Pandinus imperator (C.L. Koch, 1841)". The Scorpion Files. Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  10. UNEP-WCMC (2010). "UNEP-WCMC Species Database: CITES-listed Species". United Nations Environment Programme. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  11. Rein, J. O. (2010). "Scorpions protected by CITES". The Scorpion Files. Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  • Images of Pandinus cavimanus and P. imperator. Exotics.nl


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