On the planet, there are more than 8,000 species of scolopendra, of which many are poisonous and can harm human health when bitten. At the sight of this creature, not the most pleasant sensations arise, because their appearance is quite frightening. These arthropods live in different parts of the planet, and there is even a species that prefers to settle in the human home. Who is not afraid, we’ll take a closer look at these amazing creatures and, together with thebiggest.ru website, find out what it is, the largest scolopendra in wildlife.
The largest scolopendras of the planet:
1
Giant Scolopendra / Scolopendra gigantea
This large species can be found in the sulfuric and western parts of Latin America, as well as on the islands of Trinidad and Jamaica. Scolopendra is poisonous, especially to females.
Adult individuals grow up to 23 cm in length, but in one of the nature museums a specimen is exhibited, whose length reaches 35 cm. Such large sizes allow you to hunt lizards, birds, as well as mice and toads.
He grabs his victim with his front legs, lets in poison, and then begins to chew on his jaws. The bite is painful, and the poison, getting into the blood, causes an increase in temperature, redness and swelling at the site of the bite.
At the very bottom of the article you will find a video with this terrifying animal!
2
California Scolopendra / Scolopendra heros
She prefers to settle and hunt in the arid regions of the United States and Mexico, which is why she got her specific name.
The California scolopendra grows up to 20 cm, and the body consists of 22–23 segments. The front section is painted in a bright orange color, but the rest of the parts are black with a pronounced metallic tint.
In general, has a calm disposition, but at the time of danger can bite. The painful sensations are caused by the simple contact of the scolopendra with the human body. In history, there are cases when, after a bite of Scolopendra heros, rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure developed.
3
Scolopendra subspinipes
Scientists did not find out where this species originated from, but the English zoologist William Lynch was the first to describe it in 1815.
Adults reach 20 cm in length, and have a very original color. The parts of the body of the arthropod are gray, but in the back and in the front they are colored red. This coloring gives an even greater awesome look. But in Malaysia there are absolutely red individuals.
The natural habitat is the continent of Australia, as well as in the regions of Southeast Asia. Most likely, the species was introduced into North America and the islands of the Caribbean archipelago. The color and structure of the body vary depending on the habitat.
On Thebiggest.ru you can meet other very dangerous animals in Australia.
4
Scolopendra alternans
The main habitats of this large scolopendra species are the islands of the Caribbean, as well as the coast of North America.
A rather large arthropod, reaching a length of 18 cm. The species is characterized by a variety of colors. Some individuals have a dark head and olive body, while others have a bright yellow shell. There are also unusual blue ones, especially young ones.
They were included in the classification in 1813. The species can be identified not only by the color of the segments, but also by two processes in the form of spikes on the first legs-segments.
5
Scolopendra galapagoensis
She is also called the Goliath Darwin Centipede, and this is the largest representative in the family. They grow to 17 cm in length.
They live in the mountainous regions of Peru, the Galapagos Islands and Chatham Island. A very rare species, characterized by a diverse color. There are completely dark with orange legs, and there are light with a reddish tint.
Because of their beautiful colors, they are often bred as pets, placed in aquariums. In Peru, there was a case when a large scolopendra crawled into the house, and the owner noticed with surprise that the centipede easily eats a large bat.
By the way, besides scolopendras, there are many other many-legged animals. You can find out about the most interesting of them on thebiggest.ru.
6
Scolopendra hardwickei
Seeing such a scolopendra among the stones, you might think that this is a cub of a boa constrictor. The yellow body segments of this species alternate with the dark, which makes it look like a snake.
The distribution area is limited to the Indian Peninsula, Sumatra Island and a group of islands of the Bay of Bengal. Males and females reach a length of 16 cm. The body structure of Scolopendra hardwickei is the same as that of others, only on the back segment there is an additional pair of legs.
Variations of coloring are quite diverse, from bright red with black segments to light orange. But there is always a clear contrasting border between the colors.
7
Ringed Scolopendra / Scolopendra cingulata
One of the most common types of scolopendra in the world. Large habitat is located in southern Europe. Some subspecies can be found in the Crimea and the Northern Black Sea region.
A rather large species, growing up to 15 cm in length. Depending on the habitat, body color also varies. Mostly pale yellow, but dark individuals prevail in rocky terrain. Pretty nimble, fast-running millipede is aggressive.
The legs-jaws contain poison, but the bite is not dangerous to humans. At the site of the bite, redness may occur, a small tumor that disappears after 1–2 hours.
8
Scolopendra viridicornis
In the photo one of the most beautiful and rare species of the family True Scolopendra. You can meet a large millipede only in the moist forests of the South American continent.
The average size is 17–18 cm, but eyewitnesses said that they saw creatures whose size exceeded 25 cm. The body color is very original. The bluish body is dissected by bright orange stripes, and the legs are completely yellow.
On the last tergite there is an oblong groove, according to which the view is easily distinguished from the rest. It was first described in 1844, and in the twentieth century two subspecies were discovered, in Paraguay and Venezuela, as well as some regions of Brazil.
9
Scolopendra angulata
In life, this creature is also called the Barbados giant red scolopendra. It’s quite aggressive. Her bite for several days can put an adult on a hospital bed.
They reach a length of no more than 17 cm, and they prefer to settle among stones and in tropical rainforests. On sunny days, under the stones, millipedes hide from the heat, and go hunting at night.
Female, as in other species of scolopendra. Care for the offspring, which is not characteristic of the invertebrate inhabitants of the planet.
10
Chinese ginger scolopendra / Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans
You can meet a peculiar beauty in the countries of Southeast Asia and in Australia. A very common species in China.
They reach a length of 14-16 cm, and the color varies depending on the environment. Lighter individuals live in the steppe zones, but darker specimens live in forests and stones. But all with a predominance of red color.
The poisonous scolopendra preys on other arthropods and can attack small lizards. The poison is quite toxic, and causes discomfort after a bite. Chinese scientists have found that ginger scolopendra venom containing the SsTx toxin can kill a mouse in just 30 seconds.
11
Scolopendra subspinipes japonica
A separate subspecies of the leg-footed centipedes was discovered by the German entomologist Ludwig Koch in 1878. He introduced him to the scientific world of zoology.
There is a scolopendra, whose body length reaches 12 cm, only in East Asia. They settle in fallen leaves, preferring shady forests. But they can live in open areas in the plains and lowlands of rivers. They hunt only at night, and during the day they rest in shelters.
A bite is dangerous to humans, but not fatal. Unpleasant consequences in the form of fever, swelling and fever are more painful for people with weak immunity. In Japan, a very popular pet.
12
Scolopendra cataracta
Our review concludes with a large view of the Chilopoda class discovered by scientists in 2016. As it turned out, this is the only scolopendra that can swim.
It lives in the countries of Southeast Asia, namely in Vietnam, Laos. We met them in Thailand. Grow up to 20 cm, the first to describe a new view of Gregor Edgecomb. Tergites are dark, but the antennae and legs are slightly lighter. The amphibian centipede swims superbly, and at the moment of danger it hides from natural enemies at the bottom of reservoirs and rivers.
An interesting fact is the discovery of a new species. English biologist George Beccaloni, resting in Thailand, caught one of the scolopendras and put it in a jar of water. The scientist noticed that she swims and sinks to the bottom of the can. Then they found the same copy in the Vietnam Museum, which has been there since 1928.
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Conclusion
Scolopendra is found in Mayan myths, and in heraldry they are often portrayed as formidable dragons and snakes. In many dream books you can find an explanation of why scolopendra is a dream. In the folk song of the tribes of the island of Trinidad it was sung that there is nothing worse than a female scolopendra. But the danger of some types of skolopendra squad is largely contrived, and many peoples of Africa and Asia eat them.
In the photo: Scolopendra lunch.
Want to take a look at the video of the giant scolopendra? Here it is:
Article author: Valery Skiba