Heterometrus spinifer

Heterometrus spinifer, or its common name, Malaysian forest scorpion or in Japan Malaysian Cancer Scorpion (マレーキャンサースコーピオン), is a species of scorpions belonging to the family Scorpionidae.^[2]

Heterometrus spinifer
Asian Forest Scorpion at Goregaon Raigad
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Scorpiones
Family:	Scorpionidae
Genus:	Heterometrus
Species:	H. spinifer
Binomial name
Heterometrus spinifer (Ehrenberg in Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1828)
Synonyms
Buthus spinifer Ehrenberg in Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1828[1] Palamnaeus laevigatus Thorell, 1876 Palamnaeus oatesii Pocock, 1900

Description

H. spinifer can reach a length around 10 to 12 cm (3.9 to 4.7 in).^[3] The body is shiny black with gray-green reflections. The pincers are highly developed. In captivity it feeds primarily on insects, mainly cockroaches, crickets, and locusts.^[4] Its venom can cause severe pain, and mild numbness in the affected area, but it is not typically lethal to humans.^[4] These scorpions tend to be skittish and defensive, using their large pedipalps (pincers) to attack, more than their tails.

Distribution and habitat

This species can be found in Southeast Asia,^[3] including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, India, and other Southeast Asian countries .^[4] Generally, these terrestrial scorpions live in moist forests in the dark undergrowth under logs or other debris, and they burrow into the ground where they hide during the day.^[4]

Captivity

The Asian Forest Scorpion is commonly kept in the pet trade due to its low venom toxicity ^[5] and large size.