Giant Forest Scorpion

The giant forest scorpion (or Gigantometrus swammerdami) is a large species of arachnid that lives in the tropical rainforests of India and Sri Lanka. It is a stout, black-coloured animal with thick chitinous body plates and very large pincers. It may also have a blue or green sheen to its cuticle. The giant forest scorpion's pincers are strong and capable of catching and crushing prey, whereas its venom is relatively weak; most likely because it relies more on the strength of its pincers than the potency of its sting. Giant forest scorpions are the largest species of scorpion in the world. On average, they can grow to 23cm long at a weight of 56g.

The giant forest scorpion’s conservation status has not been formally assessed, and there is little targeted research into the conservation and threats of this species. It may be under pressure from general habitat loss and degradation through logging and land conversion for agricultural use, and as the largest scorpion in the world, collection for the pet trade may also put some pressure on wild populations. Currently, there is no protective legislation that directly targets the giant forest scorpion, although parts of its range are covered by protective areas where the habitat and population remain undisturbed. Further research into the giant scorpion to assess its wild population trend would be required as a basis for more specific conservation actions.