Emperor scorpion

The emperor scorpion is a big, shiny, black scorpion that lives in the warm rainforests and grassy places of West Africa. It is one of the largest scorpions in the whole world, about as long as a grown-up’s hand, and it has two enormous pincers at the front.

One of the most amazing things about this scorpion is its hidden glow. In normal light its body looks black, but shine an ultraviolet light on it in the dark and the whole scorpion lights up a gentle blue-green. Almost every scorpion can do this, and scientists are still puzzling over why.

Even though it has a stinger on the tip of its curling tail, the emperor scorpion is surprisingly gentle. Its venom is mild, and most of the time it grabs and holds its food with those big, strong pincers instead of stinging. It is calm enough that it has become a popular pet.

Emperor scorpions are clever hunters that come out at night. Their favourite meal is termites, and they will dig right into a termite mound to find them. They also eat other insects, spiders, and sometimes a small lizard. Special comb-like parts under their body help them feel the ground and sense their way in the dark.

Because they are large, calm, and easy to keep, so many emperor scorpions have been collected from the wild that people worried about their future. To help protect them, there are now international rules about trading them. Caring for wild places and following those rules helps make sure emperor scorpions keep glowing in the forests of Africa.