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Red Claw Scorpion (Pandinus cavimanus)

Pandinoides cavimanus

The Pandinus cavimanus, the edgy 'Red Claw Scorpion'. Very similar to and often confused with the Emperor, it is the East African alternative (not in CITES) to the P. imperator. Although it shares the bulk (4.7-5.9 inches) and the black armored build, it stands out for the imposing bright rust-red claws, devoid of evident granulations but equipped with a marked concave indentation ('cavimanus') in males. Compared to the Emperor, it has a much harsher, defensive temperament and is prone to attack and sting (albeit with weak venom). Also a fossorial of humid environments, it is strictly solitary due to high intraspecific aggressiveness.

Taxonomy
Class:Arachnida
Order:Scorpiones
Family:Scorpionidae
Subfamily:Scorpioninae
Genus:Pandinoides
Species:Pandinoides cavimanus*
Formerly known as:Pandinus cavimanus
* Source-reviewed taxonomy (American Museum of Natural History, 2026-07-24): Prendini (2016) treats the Red Claw Scorpion as Pandinoides cavimanus (Pocock, 1888); Pandinus cavimanus is the previous combination.

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

70 - 80 %

Day temperature

26 - 30 °C

Night temperature

22 - 24 °C

UVB

None

Species description

Geographic Origin and Habitat: This entry makes no geographic-origin or habitat statement beyond the cited facts above.
Taxonomy and Genetics: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy lists Pandinoides cavimanus (Pocock, 1888) at species rank. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy places Pandinoides cavimanus in the order Scorpiones, family Scorpionidae and genus Pandinoides. This entry makes no genetic statement beyond the cited facts above.
Behaviour and Habits: This entry makes no behavioural statement beyond the cited facts above.
Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: This entry makes no morphological or sex-comparison statement beyond the cited facts above.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Terrarium Setup: Guidance about terrarium setup for Pandinoides cavimanus must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Lighting and Heating: Guidance about lighting and heating for Pandinoides cavimanus must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Humidity and Hydration: Guidance about humidity and hydration for Pandinoides cavimanus must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Feeding and Supplementation: Guidance about feeding and supplementation for Pandinoides cavimanus must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Compatibility and Coexistence: Guidance about compatibility and coexistence for Pandinoides cavimanus must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Health and Common Diseases: Guidance about health and common diseases for Pandinoides cavimanus must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: Africa Orientale (Foreste umide e savane boschive della Tanzania e Kenya).

Origin

Africa and Madagascar

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet
No verified data available
Life expectancy
No verified data available
Adult size
11.09 cm
The catalog's scalar value is 11.09 cm. The Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History — Pandinoides cavimanus source reports a maximum adult measurement of 11.09 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). The taxonomic record consulted is Pandinoides cavimanus. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Lifestyle/Microhabitat
No verified data available
Activity cycle
No verified data available
Sociality
No verified data available
Reproduction
No verified data available
Venom level
No verified data available
Handling tolerance
No verified data available
Brumation
No verified data available
Molting
No verified data available

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

Related species

Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.

Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

Asian Forest Scorpion

Asian Forest Scorpion

Heterometrus spinifer

Emperor Scorpion

Emperor Scorpion

Pandinus imperator

Peters' Forest Scorpion (Heterometrus petersii)

Peters' Forest Scorpion (Heterometrus petersii)

Heterometrus petersii

Large-clawed Scorpion (Scorpio maurus)

Large-clawed Scorpion (Scorpio maurus)

Scorpio maurus

Recommended companions

Compatible cards from coherent ecosystems with matching parameters.

Edible Bullfrog
Amphibian

Edible Bullfrog

Pyxicephalus edulis

Punctate Reed Frog
Amphibian

Punctate Reed Frog

Hyperolius nasutus

Tomato Frog
Amphibian

Tomato Frog

Dyscophus antongilii

Brown Tomato Frog
Amphibian

Brown Tomato Frog

Dyscophus insularis

Similar care

Cards with similar requirements, difficulty, habitat, and husbandry profile.

Giant West African Snail (Archachatina marginata)

Giant West African Snail (Archachatina marginata)

Archachatina marginata

Giant African Millipede

Giant African Millipede

Archispirostreptus gigas

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

Gromphadorhina portentosa

Moroccan Isopod

Moroccan Isopod

Porcellio sp. 'Morocco'

Last updated: 08/10/2026
Red Claw Scorpion (Pandinus cavimanus) (Pandinoides cavimanus) Care Guide & Terrarium Setup | Atlarium