Skip to main content

Pacific giant centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes)

Pacific giant centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes) is an animal species, very large, up to 20 cm long, has many color variations and is usually red or reddish brown with yellow or orange-yellow legs, active and aggressive predators that prey on any animal that can be defeated.

S. subspinipes has 22 segments with each segment having a border with a black feature and a pair of legs that end in sharp nails. A pair of legs growing on the head covered by a flat shield are forcipules that have claws and are connected to poison glands to kill prey and defenses.

Dlium Pacific giant centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes)


Pacific giant centipede has simple eyes with poor eyesight and is very dependent on touch and chemoreceptors where a pair of long antennas are on the right and left side of the head. The sensor also utilizes a pair of long tails which have four joints that grow in the last segment of the body.

They breathe through S-shaped holes located along the sides of their bodies. This centipede is very aggressive and ready to attack if disturbed and sensitive to vibrations around. Prey spiders, scorpions, vinegaroons, small reptiles, mice and almost every living animal that can be defeated.

S. subspinipes attacks with the last prehensorial foot, then the head is bent quickly backward to implant venomous jaws. Centipedes will use the entire body to encircle prey and attach their legs firmly. Then quickly use forcipules for injection of poison.

Females produce 50-80 eggs which are protected until they hatch and will wrap the baby to keep them safe. Young centipede changes its skin once every year and takes 3-4 years to reach full adult size. They lived for 10 years or more.







Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Scolopendromorpha
Family: Scolopendridae
Subfamily: Scolopendrinae
Genus: Scolopendra
Species: Scolopendra subspinipes

Popular Posts

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

NEWS - Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) create bubble net tools while foraging, consisting of internal tangential rings, and actively control the number of rings, their size, depth and horizontal spacing between the surrounding bubbles. These structural elements of the net increase prey intake sevenfold. Researchers have known that humpback whales create “bubble nets” for hunting, but the new report shows that the animals also manipulate them in a variety of ways to maximize catches. The behavior places humpbacks among the rare animals that make and use their own tools. “Many animals use tools to help them find food, but very few actually make or modify these tools themselves,” said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpback whales in southeast Alaska create elaborate bubble nets to catch krill. They skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form a web with internal rings. They actively control details such ...

Javan mocca or Javan slender caesar (Amanita javanica)

OPINION - Javan mocca or Javan slender caesar ( Amanita javanica ) is a mysterious fungus species and has been enigmatic since it was first reported by Boedijn in 1951 and after that no explanation or reporting of specimens is believed to be the same as expected. Boedijn (1951) described A. javanica which grew on Java island as having the characteristics covered in the Amanita genus. Corner and Bas in 1962 tried to describe Javan mocca and all species in Amanita based on specimens in Singapore. Over time some reports say that they have found A. javanica specimens in other Southeast Asia including also China, Japan, India and Nepal. But there is no definitive knowledge and many doubt whether the specimen is the same as described by Boedijn (1951). I was fortunate to have seen this species one afternoon and soon I took out a camera for some shots. In fact, I've only met this mushroom species once. Javan mocca is an endangered species and I have never seen in my experience in...

Chameleon forest dragon (Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus)

Bunglon hutan or chameleon anglehead lizard or chameleon forest dragon ( Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus ) is an animal species in Agamidae, having a larger size than other species, the most unique head shape and has the ability to change color by changing mood rather than for camouflage. Morphology G. chamaeleontinus has a total length of 40 cm, the muzzle to the buttocks is 16 cm, the base color is green with orange, yellow to brownish spots and sexual dimorphism. The eyes are protected by a movable eyelid surrounded by a slightly darker color, while males have a bright blue color around the eyes. Short head with a triangle and thorns above the eyes. Medium-sized head scales, vary, smooth and have a little tubercle that extends above the ear. Heterodont teeth with acrodont type and dorsal tongue are covered by reticular papillae. The upper labial scale consists of 10-12 units and the lower labial scale consists of 11-14 units. Dorsal body scales are composed of small and fine ...