The Giant Forest Scorpion (Heterometrus swammerdami titanicus) is a large Asian arachnid featured in the Standard Edition of Planet Zoo.
Zoopedia Information[]
General[]
Population in the Wild: Unknown
The giant forest scorpion (or Heterometrus swammerdami titanicus) is a large species of arachnid that lives in the tropical rainforests of India and Sri Lanka. It's a stout, black coloured animal with thick chitinous body plates and very large pincers. It may also have a blue or green sheen to its cuticle. The giant forest scorpion's pincers are strong and capable of catching and crushing prey, whereas its venom is relatively weak; most likely because it relies more on the strength of its pincers than the potency of its sting.
Social[]
Giant forest scorpions are solitary animals, only interacting for mating purposes.
Reproduction[]
When a receptive male and female come across each other, the male will grab her pedipalps (mouth parts) with his and pull her back and forth across the ground. This occurs until he finds an area of substrate that is suitable to complete the mating procedure. Once he has located somewhere suitable, he will deposit sperm on the ground from his abdomen end and, if she acquiesces, he will move her onto the sperm so she can take it up via a pore on her abdomen. The female will fertilize her eggs and incubate them for 5 to 8 months, after which she will give birth to live young that will climb onto her back. She carries them until they are 3-weeks-old, have moulted, and are tough enough to be independent. These young scorpions will reach sexual maturity between the ages of 1 and 3-years-old.
Animal Care[]
|
PREFERRED OBJECTS | |
|---|---|
|
DIET | |
|
HABITAT ENRICHMENT | |
Trivia[]
Zoopedia Fun Facts[]
- The giant forest scorpion is the largest species of scorpion in the world, reaching up to 23cm in length.
- The giant forest scorpion, like all scorpions, glows under ultraviolet light.
- The giant forest scorpion is more likely to use its pincers to attack than to use its sting.
- Giant forest scorpions can survive a whole year without eating.
- Giant forest scorpions can remain underwater for 48-hours and survive.
Other Trivia[]
- It was the only Asian animal which is showcased in an exhibit enclosure, until the reveal of the Giant Malaysian Leaf Insect from the Southeast Asia Animal Pack.
Gallery[]
