2012. Review of Significant Trade - Cites

Pandinus imperator
Polis (1990) noted that several scorpion species do not follow the r-selection life strategy
typical of terrestrial invertebrates, resembling instead long-lived vertebrates in several
aspects of their life history (i.e. K-selection strategy), “probably because of the stability and
predictability of their subterranean habitat”.
General distribution and status: Reported to occur in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea,
Liberia, Togo and Nigeria (Lourenço and Cloudsley-Thompson, 1996). Apparent records of
the species from Bioko (Equatorial Guinea), Ethiopia, Somalia and Senegal reported by
Lamoral and Reynders (1975) were considered to be probably based on misidentification or
confusion with other Pandinus species (Lourenço and Cloudsley-Thompson, 1996).
Lourenço and Cloudsley-Thompson (1996) noted that “little research has been carried out on
Pandinus spp.” More recently, Prendini (pers. comm. To UNEP-WCMC, 2011) stated: “very
little is known about the conservation status of the species but I am sure it is in a bad state”.
Wild populations were considered to be threatened by the exotic pet trade and by habitat
destruction through deforestation (Prendini et al., 2003; Prendini, 2004). P. imperator was
considered to be highly vulnerable to over-collecting for the pet trade as a result of its life
strategy, i.e. highly social animals with small brood sizes, lengthy gestation periods and age
to sexual maturity, parental care, and generally low reproductive output (CoP9 Prop. 64;
Sissom, 1994; Prendini et al., 2003; Lourenço, 2004). The species usually lives in groups under
termite mounds which was considered to make these colonies easy to locate and to facilitate
capture of several individuals at once (CoP9 Prop. 64; Ineich, 2006).
Ineich (2006) noted that the only scorpion species exported from west Africa was
Pandinus imperator, and that it was exported “in huge quantities”. Prendini (2004) noted that
“this species is readily obtained from pet stores in Europe, the USA and Japan”. The species
was considered to be in decline, at least locally, as a result of the heavy international trade in
the species (CoP9 Prop. 64).
P. imperator was reported to be relatively easy to rear (CoP9 Prop. 64; Sissom, 1994;
Brownell and Polis, 2001; Ineich, 2006; Taylor, 2010) and breed (CoP9 Prop. 64; Ineich, 2006;
Taylor, 2010). One hobbyist (Taylor, 2010) noted, however, that “it is widely accepted and
acknowledged that most of the Emperors Pandinus imperator in captivity today are wild
caught imports”.
Prendini et al. (2003) and Prendini (2004) suggested that the decline in the species may be
partially alleviated by its listing in CITES Appendix II and “the increasing preference for
captive-bred specimens in the pet trade”.
Overview of trade and management in the species: P. imperator was listed in CITES
Appendix II on 16/02/1995, following CoP9 (CoP9 Prop. 64).
At the 15 th meeting of the Animals Committee, the working group that reviewed all taxa in
the Review of Significant Trade process expressed concerns about claims that the species
was ranched and about the lack of protection or management of the species throughout its
range particularly in the exporting countries (AC15 Proceedings). The species was reviewed
for AC 15, when it was concluded that its status in the main exporting countries (Ghana,
Togo and Benin) was “completely unknown” and that it required “further investigation”
(WCMC et al., 1999)
Ivan Ineich (French National Natural History Museum) undertook two missions, one in 2004
to Benin and Togo and another in 2006 to Ghana and Togo to assess the captive breeding,
ranching and trade of reptiles and P. imperator from those countries and prepared a report
for the CITES Secretariat based on his findings (Ineich, 2006).
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