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Post by Vodmeister on Aug 12, 2013 11:45:18 GMT 5
Emperor Scorpion
 Emperor scorpions exposed to ultra-violet light at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium The emperor scorpion, Pandinus imperator, is a species of scorpion native to Africa. It is one of the largest scorpions in the world and lives for 6–8 years. Its body is black, but glows under ultraviolet light. It is a popular species in the pet trade, and is protected by CITES. The emperor scorpion (Pandinus imperator) is one of the largest species of scorpion in the world, with adults averaging about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length. However, some species of forest scorpions are fairly similar to the emperor scorpion in size, and one scorpion, Heterometrus swammerdami, holds the record for being the world's largest scorpion at 9 inches (23 cm) in length. The large pincers are blackish-red and have a granular texture. The front part of the body, or prosoma, is made up of four sections, each with a pair of legs. Behind the fourth pair of legs are comb-like structures known as pectines, which tend to be longer in males than in females. The tail, known as the metasoma, is long and curves back over the body. It ends in the large receptacle containing the venom glands and is tipped with a sharp, curved stinger. Their sting is categorized as mild (similar to a bee sting) to severe on humans depending on the species. Sensory hairs cover the pincers and tail, enabling the emperor scorpion to detect prey through vibrations in the air and ground. When gravid (pregnant), the body of a female expands to expose the whitish membranes connecting the segments. The emperor scorpion fluoresces greenish-blue under ultra-violet light. Giant Tropical Centipede
 Scolopendra gigantea, also known as the Peruvian giant yellow-leg centipede or Amazonian giant centipede, is one of the largest representatives of the genus Scolopendra with a length up to 30 cm (12 in). It can be found in various places of South America and the Caribbean, where it preys on a great variety of animals, including other sizable arthropods, amphibians, mammals and reptiles. These arthropods have surged in popularity among collectors of exotic pets. They are known to be very aggressive and nervous. The Peruvian giant centipede is among the largest species of centipedes which can regularly reach lengths of 26 cm (10 in) and can be up to 30 cm (12 in) or even more. In common with other members of the genus Scolopendra, the body of this species has 21 or 23 well-marked sections with each section having one pair of legs. Its legs are adapted for fast moving during their hunting or retreating. Its head is covered by a flat shield and features a pair of antennae. A pair of modified legs terminating in sharp claws (called forcipules) can also be found on its head and these are the major weapons used by these predators to kill their prey or defend themselves. The forcipules are used to penetrate the victims' bodies for venom injection. It has simple eyes with poor vision, seeing only shadows of light so it relies highly on touch and its chemoreceptors. The centipede breathes via the round, triangular or S-shaped openings located along the sides of its body and which connect to trachea.
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Post by Vodmeister on Aug 12, 2013 11:52:14 GMT 5
Sorry for not adding pictures of scorpions or pedes to the OP, but I can't copy & paste images on my iPhone, and my laptop is broken. It would be very much appreciated if a mod could edit my post and add pics of the animals, thnx in advance.
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Post by Venomous Dragon on Aug 12, 2013 22:22:22 GMT 5
Scorpions seem quite capable in insect confrontations, if it can grap the centipede's head I think it will win but if if cant i see the centipede taking it.
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Post by Vodmeister on Aug 13, 2013 5:19:56 GMT 5
I think that the deadliness of a Scorpions pincers is quite underrated. Most of the time, they use their pincers only to hold onto their prey as injecting them with venom. They use them as grappling tools more often than slicing ones. But look at how easily the Scorpion can cut off a similar-sized Tarentula's legs when it does put force in its hold: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u4RwLcsNUA |
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Derdadort
Junior Member
Excavating rocks and watching birds
Posts: 267 
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Post by Derdadort on Aug 13, 2013 14:26:06 GMT 5
A question as a precaution: what exactly means "animal cruelity"? I'm asking, because I'm not sure if it's desired to post such bug fight videos. So at first only the link like vodmeister did it www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQX13wojO-QA giant centiped fights against a scorpion. It's indeed no emperor scorpion, but it shows the behaviour and strategy of both animals. |
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Post by theropod on Aug 13, 2013 15:27:45 GMT 5
I'd be cautious with such videos, they seem to be just like dog fights, but with arthropods.
But it seems the centipede is a very quick and capable grappler.
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Post by Runic on Aug 13, 2013 17:11:43 GMT 5
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Post by Vodmeister on Aug 14, 2013 10:53:20 GMT 5
I know that animal cruelty is prohibited, but to my knowledge Japanese bug fights are not considered to be cruelty. Still, I took the pre-cautious route and merely posted the link, rather than emb the video on this page.
Nevertheless, I have owned a centipede before (he only lived for 8 months or so), while I've never had a scorpion. Still, I would back the latter, the centipede will struggle to wrestle an opponent as well-armed as the scorpion; and while the centipede might be 12 inches long, compared to only 9 inches for his opponent, the scorpions scaled armour and much more robust body certainly give him the edge.
Scorpion 7/10 IMO.
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Post by Runic on Aug 14, 2013 13:34:45 GMT 5
I know that animal cruelty is prohibited, but to my knowledge Japanese bug fights are not considered to be cruelty. Still, I took the pre-cautious route and merely posted the link, rather than emb the video on this page. Nevertheless, I have owned a centipede before (he only lived for 8 months or so), while I've never had a scorpion. Still, I would back the latter, the centipede will struggle to wrestle an opponent as well-armed as the scorpion; and while the centipede might be 12 inches long, compared to only 9 inches for his opponent, the scorpions scaled armour and much more robust body certainly give him the edge. Scorpion 7/10 IMO. Centipedes don't wrestle. They wrap around their enemy before piercing the body and injecting venom. Their won't be any wrestle" just a wrapped up scorpion especially if it's at weight parity because the centipede would have been MUCH longer and decently thick. And from what I've seen if they fauil to wrap up the scorpion they then bite through its tail. Either way no matter what if the scorpion gets bitten through its a dead insect crawling Interesting fact : Giant centipede prey on emperor scorpions where they coexist while the scorpion generally seems to avoid centipede around its size. Double edit: And emperor scorpions average no where near 9 inches. Only the largest scorpions are 9 inches. Average is like 6-7.9 inches. While the peruvian yellow leg & amazonian giant centipede are known to commonly exceed 10 inches. |
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Post by Vodmeister on Aug 15, 2013 2:43:38 GMT 5
Black ice, I remember you quite often stressing the fact that the scorpion's pincers are weak. However, it seems that the video of the scorpion mauling. tarantula if equal size effortlessly has changed your opinion on that matter.
Now, you want to talk about size, I used the upper limit for both animals, which would be 9 inches of body length for the scorpion, and a foot for the centipede. Still, I would consider the scorpion to be the more powerful creature. The scorpion is thicker and more robust build than the centipede.
As for your claim that centipedes dominate scorpions in their habitat, for as far as i know these two specific species do not co-exist. Also, basing your conclusion in a few wildlife incidents is unrliable, as 99% of conflicts between these animals are not reported, and to be honest, scorpions probably win the majority if them.
Lastly, I'm not sure if you want to bring up weaponry, because the scorpion is clearly the better armed animal. The scorpion has deadly pincers up at front as its primary defence and attack, it is armour-plated, and has a razor-sharp sting which delivers venom. For granted, the centipede has a strong venom of its own, but it's body, unlike the scorpion, is unarmed. It has no pincers, no sting, nor any armour for defensive. The centipede relies on wrestling its opponent, this would not work very well against a scorpion. If the centipede tried to wrap its body around a scorpion as big or bigger than itself, it'd be a fatal mistake.
Scorpion 7/10 IMO.
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Post by Runic on Aug 15, 2013 3:01:41 GMT 5
Black ice, I remember you quite often stressing the fact that the scorpion's pincers are weak. However, it seems that the video of the scorpion mauling. tarantula if equal size effortlessly has changed your opinion on that matter. Now, you want to talk about size, I used the upper limit for both animals, which would be 9 inches of body length for the scorpion, and a foot for the centipede. Still, I would consider the scorpion to be the more powerful creature. The scorpion is thicker and more robust build than the centipede. As for your claim that centipedes dominate scorpions in their habitat, for as far as i know these two specific species do not co-exist. Also, basing your conclusion in a few wildlife incidents is unrliable, as 99% of conflicts between these animals are not reported, and to be honest, scorpions probably win the majority if them. Lastly, I'm not sure if you want to bring up weaponry, because the scorpion is clearly the better armed animal. The scorpion has deadly pincers up at front as its primary defence and attack, it is armour-plated, and has a razor-sharp sting which delivers venom. For granted, the centipede has a strong venom of its own, but it's body, unlike the scorpion, is unarmed. It has no pincers, no sting, nor any armour for defensive. The centipede relies on wrestling its opponent, this would not work very well against a scorpion. If the centipede tried to wrap its body around a scorpion as big or bigger than itself, it'd be a fatal mistake. Scorpion 7/10 IMO. A) Ripping legs off a soft bodied tarantula is a far cry from strength display. You once thought they could snap pencils (Which is false) B) Scorpions are not vastly more robust than Giant centipedes. Notice how thick this pede is despite it being a foot long img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/crowskyler/animania/giant_centipede2.jpgIf a centipede was built like a scorpion, they would be MUCH heavier at equal lengths. Yet even while longer centipede have prominent robusticity. C) Emperor scorpion co exist with Giant centipede, in which the latter preys on the former while the former avoids the latter I remember 221extra posting a link to it on CF. And in the japanese bug fights, when pitted against scorpions, beetles & spiders and mantises, the centipede normally won more than not against every opponent. D) The weaponry is no where near a mismatch as you say. Scorpion stingers can't penetrate centipede body armor (which they do have contrary to your claim. You freaking owned a centipede as I have, how Dafuq did you not know the plating on their tops was armor  us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/noegrr/noegrr1207/noegrr120700110/14517475-a-giant-centipede-an-insect-relative-class-chilopoda-phylum-arthropoda-its-hurt.jpg) and the pincers are mainly used for holding. Centipede however use their entire body as a weapon along with hyperdermic needle fangs and potent venom. If anything weapons goes to the pede. E) Centipede have way more potent venom as emperor scorpion rely in pincer strength more thsn their weak venom to kill prey The scorpion would be wrapped up and immobilized by the centipedes much longer body before getting its armor pierced by fangs and dying from venom. Centipede 8/10 at weight parity. |
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Post by Vodmeister on Aug 15, 2013 3:06:14 GMT 5
I'm thoroughly enjoying this debate with my old rival, but I can't post long replies right now because I'm in a car and typing long comments in an IPhone is hard as hell. I'll reply to this thread in a few hours to make a case in favour of the scorpion, and why it is the king if insects. ;-)
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Post by Runic on Aug 15, 2013 3:09:19 GMT 5
I'm thoroughly enjoying this debate with my old rival, but I can't post long replies right now because I'm in a car and typing long comments in an IPhone is hard as hell. I'll reply to this thread in a few hours to make a case in favour of the scorpion, and why it is the king if insects. ;-) But seriously vod you owned a centipede (so have i) you should know centipede have body armor (wtf do you think the plating on their backs and heads is for? ) |
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Post by Runic on Aug 15, 2013 3:19:22 GMT 5
Also it should be noted Giant Centipede are aggressive & paranoid while emperor scorpions are almost always docile. That gives the pede an even greater advantage.
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Post by Vodmeister on Aug 15, 2013 5:59:18 GMT 5
Ice, you cannot compare the armour if a centipede to a scorpion. Indeed, giant centipedes do have scales in the upper part of their bodies, but the armour of the scorpion is leagues ahead.
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