Chaerilus cimrmani

Chaerilus
cimrmani

Chaerilus scorpions belong to the Chaerilidae family and are generally small, secretive, and quite docile. Generally these scorpions thrive in damp environments. Chaerilus scorpions can exhibit thanatos, a behavior characterized by death-feigning, which serves as an antipredator strategy to evade threats.

HABITAT

🌍Geographic Range:

Native to Southeast Asia, specifically described from regions in Vietnam, particularly the northern mountainous areas.

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Elevation

Often found at higher elevations, usually in humid, forested mountain regions.

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🌳Natural Environment:

Prefers moist tropical or subtropical forests.
Often found under rotting logs, leaf litter, or stones
Thrives in shaded, cool microhabitats with high humidity and stable temperatures

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Substrate:

Typically rich in decaying organic matter, moss, and moist soil, which helps them stay hydrated and protected from temperature swings.

CAPTIVE CARE

📏Enclosure Size:

A small terrarium (e.g., 10"x10"x10") is sufficient for a single Chaerilus scorpion.

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🌱Substrate:

Use a mix of coco fiber and top soil or any other tropical soils that absorb moisture well to mimic their natural habitat. A depth of 2-3 inches allows burrowing.

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🌬️Ventilation:

Maintain high humidity, decrease ventilation.

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🌡️Temperature:

Keep between 20-25°C, A small heat mat on one side of the enclosure can help regulate warmth.

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💧Humidity:

Requires moderate to high humidity levels (70-80%). Regular misting is recommended.

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🥣Water Source:

A small bottle cap sized dish filled with fresh water or occasional misting is sufficient.

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🐛Food:

Small live prey such as crickets or fruit flies. Alternatively, you can leave larger pre-killed prey for them to scavenge.

STATS

LATIN NAME:

• Chaerilus cimrmani

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COMMON NAME:

• Thailand Black Scorpion

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TEMPERATURE

• 20°- 25°

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TEMPERAMENT:

• Calm & Uses thanatosis

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HUMIDITY:

• 80%

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COMMUNAL:

• 4/5

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SIZE:

• Up to 5cm

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ECOLOGY:

• Terrestrial

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SUBSTRATE:

• Soil that holds humidity

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ORIGIN:

• Thailand, Phetburi & Trang provinces

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Classification:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Chaerilidae
Genus: Chaerilus
Species: C. cimrmani

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Family: Chaerilidae

Chaerilidae is a distinct scorpion family containing a single living genus, Chaerilus, distributed across South and Southeast Asia. Species within this family are generally smaller, forest-associated scorpions and are often identified using fine diagnostic characters rather than obvious external traits.

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Genus: Chaerilus

The genus Chaerilus contains numerous species across tropical Asia, particularly within humid forest environments. Members of this genus are typically cryptic, nocturnal, and microhabitat-dependent, and many species show relatively subtle morphological differences.

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Species: Chaerilus cimrmani

Authority & Year

Described by František Kovařík in 2012.

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Etymology

The species name cimrmani is a tribute to Jára Cimrman, a famous Czech fictional character often referenced in Czech culture.

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✅ Nomenclatural Notes

There are no widely accepted synonyms for Chaerilus cimrmani in modern usage.
The name has remained stable since its original description.
It may occasionally be confused in the hobby with other Thai Chaerilus species due to similar size and overall appearance.

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✅ Phylogenetic / Taxonomic Context

Chaerilus is often regarded as part of a more basal or distinctive lineage among scorpions compared to many of the more commonly known families. The family’s separation is supported by consistent morphological characteristics that remain stable across the genus.

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✅ Related / Similar Species

Within Thailand and nearby regions, Chaerilus cimrmani may be discussed alongside other closely related or similarly occurring Chaerilus species, including:

Chaerilus stockmannorum
Chaerilus neradorum
Chaerilus sejnai
Chaerilus sp smuatra

These species are separated through detailed morphological comparison and locality-based records.

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Short Scientific Summary

Chaerilus cimrmani is a Southeast Asian scorpion in the family Chaerilidae, described in 2012 from southern Thailand. It belongs to a genus known for small, forest-associated scorpions that require careful morphological study for accurate species-level identification.