Dictator scorpion?

[MalHagger95]

Hey guys. I'm new to the forum as well as relatively new to tarantulas and brand new to scorpions. I got my first scorpion last night. It was sold to me as a dictator but I want to make sure it's not an emperor. Can anyone positively ID this fella/lady?

 

[Matts inverts]

Closer pictures are needed but it is more than likely a dictator. Emperors are protected by cities and are very hard to find. It might be an Asian forest scorpion but unlikely

 

[Matts inverts]

From a closer look, it looks like a dictator but the pictures are not close enough so it’s harder to tell

 

[MalHagger95]

From a closer look, it looks like a dictator but the pictures are not close enough so it’s harder to tell

I can get some more pics. What would be the best angle to take them from?

 

[Matts inverts]

Up close. Over the top. Try to get the pinchers in the picture.

 

[Ferrachi]

I can get some more pics. What would be the best angle to take them from?

Here... use this as a reference to compare

 

[Matts inverts]

It looks like a dictator. In the pictures you provided, the pinchers have more texture. I would not even be concerned about it because emperors are protected in there range. The ones that are called emperors are usually dictators that are mislabeled so people can sell them. I would be worried about it being an Asian forest scorpion but from the pictures, it doesn’t look like it is so it was actually labeled correctly.

 

[Lubed Tweezer]

Congratulations on your new critter.
Certainly looks like a Pandinus.
A closer look at the triangle on the carapace should determine if it is a P emperator or a P dictator.
Example of what you are looking for;

Besides the triangle, dictator's carapace is much more granular.
Good luck, hope this helps.

 

[Ferrachi]

Congratulations on your new critter.
Certainly looks like a Pandinus.
A closer look at the triangle on the carapace should determine if it is a P emperator or a P dictator.
Example of what you are looking for;
View attachment 380912 View attachment 380913 View attachment 380914
Besides the triangle, dictator's carapace is much more granular.
Good luck, hope this helps.

Where have you been ?

 

[Lubed Tweezer]

Where have you been ?

Yeah, work work work.
Ever since the pandemic hit, work has been more busy than ever before.
Had to slightly cut down on the scorpion hobby, lack of meetings or invert shows is also a reason that the hobby moved to the background a bit.
I honestly need to invest a bit more time into it, but when there's money to be earned I got to take it.... You know.... Life...
Can't wait for our lockdown to end and visit some invert shows to get me back up to speed.
How are you yourself @Ferrachi ?

 

[MalHagger95]

Ok based on the info you guys gave me, I'm leaning strongly towards dictator. . The carapace is much more granular and the triangle on the carapace is black and so small I almost couldn't find it. Reference pics make things so much easier lol. I'm gonna attach some better pictures just to get a confirmation, but now I'm pretty sure it's a dictator.
Excuse the not so great pic quality. I'm not a great close up photographer lol

 

[Lubed Tweezer]

but now I'm pretty sure it's a dictator.

I agree.
The P dictator also has those 2 small bumps right next to the smaller triangle.

 

[Ferrachi]

Yeah, work work work.
Ever since the pandemic hit, work has been more busy than ever before.
Had to slightly cut down on the scorpion hobby, lack of meetings or invert shows is also a reason that the hobby moved to the background a bit.
I honestly need to invest a bit more time into it, but when there's money to be earned I got to take it.... You know.... Life...
Can't wait for our lockdown to end and visit some invert shows to get me back up to speed.
How are you yourself @Ferrachi ?

Same as you... work work and work, but I'm not complaining. I can't wait until these lock downs end so they can bring back the invert shows too. Glad to see you back !

 

[Matts inverts]

Unless you bought a captive bred adult emperor which would be the most expensive scorpion, it was probably a WC dictator because the emperors are illegal to export from Africa. I don’t think a small shop would break import laws so it is almost definitely a dictator. And, you bought an adult which also means it was probably imported.

 

[Collin Clary]

Closer pictures are needed but it is more than likely a dictator. Emperors are protected by cities and are very hard to find. It might be an Asian forest scorpion but unlikely

P. dictator is CITES listed too, and both species have been listed since 1995.

Furthermore, despite the exportation bans in Ghana, Togo, and Benin, P. imperator is still being exported from other countries (albeit in lower numbers, and often misidentified as P. dictator). In many places you can find them for sale in local pet stores.

Real P. dictator has only entered the pet trade on a handful of occasions, and are much more uncommon.

 

[Collin Clary]

@MalHagger95 It's a Pandinus imperator. Pandinopsis dictator have narrower chelae and are much more heavily granulated.