How to Find the Sex of an Emperor Scorpion
Emperor scorpions hail from Africa and belong to the arachnid family. Arachnid lovers sometimes keep scorpions from this breed as pets. Sexing an emperor scorpion helps not only for breeding purposes but also in deciding on a name for the scorpion. Male and female emperors possess similar genitalia. Handle the scorpion with care, as its segments are fragile and it can sting. Their venom is not poisonous, although it can prompt an allergic reaction in some individuals.
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Instructions
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Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and water. Dry them with a clean cloth or paper towels.
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Cover a flat surface with a soft cloth or towel so the scorpion stays comfortable during the sexing process.
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Place the scorpion belly-up on the cloth.
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Look at the genital opening near the tail. You should see two sections of off-white tines sitting opposite each other on the scorpion's abdomen. These tines, called pectines, appear long and fang-like on males and short and teeth-like on females. However, you might not be able to tell for certain if it is male or female based on this alone.
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Inspect the area directly beneath where the pectines come together in a "V" shape. This section, the genital operculum, has a line down the middle of it in both sexes. However, it looks somewhat ovular on a male and is heart-shaped on the female.
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Tips & Warnings
Since emperor scorpions' bodies can break if they are dropped or mishandled, biologist Frank Indiviglio of That Reptile Blog suggests placing the scorpion belly-down in a clear plastic box or container. Instead of turning it over to identify its sex, pick up the box and examine the belly from this viewpoint.
Always handle the scorpion as if it were poisonous and dangerous. Even if you are not allergic to its venom, its claws can still inflict pain if the scorpion is aggravated or startled.
