Scolopendra gigantea
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| iScolopendra gigantea | ||||||||||||||
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 Amazonian giant centipede
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| Scolopendra gigantea (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Scolopendra gigantea, commonly identified as the ‘Peruvian giant yellowleg centipede’ or ‘Amazonian giant centipede’, is the world's largest representative of scolopendras, regularly reaching lengths of 26 cm and can exceed 30 cm .<ref> (2000) "Neotype designation and a diagnostic account for the centipede, Scolopendra gigantea L. 1758, with an account of S. galapagoensis Bollman 1889 (Chilopoda Scolopendromorpha Scolopendridae)". Tropical Zoology 13 (1): 159–170. ISSN: 0394-6975.</ref> The species inhabits the North and West regions of South America and the islands of Trinidad and Jamaica. It is carnivorous, feeding on lizards, frogs, birds, mice and even bats.<ref> (2005) "Predation by Giant Centipedes, Scolopendra gigantea, on Three Species of Bats in a Venezuelan Cave". Caribbean Journal of Science 41 (2): 340–346. Retrieved on 2006-07-01.</ref>
The body consists of 21-23 segments which are coppery red or maroon in color, each with a pair of yellow-tinted legs; the legs are adapted for fast walking (even running) and for grasping prey tightly before killing it.
The centipede has modified claws called forcipules which curve around its head and can deliver venom into its prey. The extremely potent venom, containing acetylcholine, histamine, and serotonin, is toxic to humans and causes a local sharp pain (similar to a hornet sting), severe swelling, chills, fever, and weakness.
S. gigantea is a popular pet among arthropod fanatics, but should not be handled without protective equipment, as even a trace of the venom coming in contact with skin can cause a reaction. The condition of having been poisoned by the venom of a centipede in this genus is called scolopendrism.
Female S. gigantea centipedes exhibit parental care, guarding and tending their nests of eggs. Juveniles are very dark red or black in color, and very thin with large spherical red heads. They molt several times before reaching adult size.
The centipede is featured in BBC's television series Life in the Undergrowth, written and presented by David Attenborough. In the series the centipede is filmed entering a bat cave and catching a bat in midflight. The predation of the centipede on bats in a Venezuelan cave is also discussed in the "Caribbean Journal of Science," Volume 41, No 2, 340-346.
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