Pacific giant centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes)

Pacific Giant Centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes) is a species of animal in the family Scolopendridae. It is very large and exhibits a wide range of color variations—typically red or reddish-brown with yellow or yellowish-orange legs—and is an active, aggressive predator that preys on any animal it is capable of overpowering.

S. subspinipes can reach a length of up to 20 cm. The entire body is reddish-brown. The cephalic plate (head) and body segments may be uniform in color (monochromatic) or consist of two colors (dichromatic). The tergites are reddish-brown, with a dark band along the posterior margin of each. The cephalic plate features small spots (puncta) on its anterior portion and a median sulcus; the posterior part of the cephalic plate lacks paramedian sulci. The antennae typically consist of 16–19 segments, with the 6 basal segments being cylindrical and smooth (hairless) dorsally, while 6 segments are also smooth ventrally.







The antennae extend as far as the third or fourth body segment. The trochanteroprefemoral process of the forcipules bears denticles (small teeth) arranged in two groups: 1–3 denticles apically and 1–2 denticles medially (on the inner side). The tooth-plate is either wider than it is long or roughly equal in width and length, featuring 5–7 teeth—though in rare cases, as many as 10 teeth may be present on one side. The tooth-plate has a straight, transverse basal suture. The coxosternite lacks a median suture. The second segment of the telopodite of the second maxilla bears a spur.

The anterior margin of the first tergite (T1) lies beneath the cephalic plate. Complete paramedian sulci are present on the third and fourth tergites (TT3–4). Margination typically begins from the 5th to the 10th tergite; in some specimens, it only commences from the 12th to the 13th tergite. The surface of the tergites appears smooth. The tergite of the ultimate leg-bearing segment lacks both a median suture and any depressions. The width-to-length ratio of the tergite is 0.8:1.

The sternites possess complete paramedian sutures. The surface of the sternites is smooth and devoid of depressions. The sternite of the ultimate leg-bearing segment has lateral margins that taper posteriorly; its surface lacks any depressions. The pore field on the coxopleuron terminates well below the margin of the tergite of the ultimate leg-bearing segment. The dorsal edge of this pore field is slightly undulating.

The coxopleural process is quite long, featuring two apical spines and 0–1 subapical spine. A pore-free area extends along 30–70% of the distal portion of the coxopleural process, reaching toward the posterior margin of the sternite of the last leg-bearing body segment.

All legs lack setae and tibial spurs. A single tarsal spur is present on legs 1–19, or more commonly, on legs 1–20. The ultimate (last) pair of legs is long and slender, with the following length ratios: prefemur to femur 1.4:1, femur to tibia 1.2:1, tibia to second tarsus 1.4:1, and first tarsus to second tarsus 2:1. The prefemoral spines consist of 2 VL (ventrolateral), 1–2 M (medial), and 0–3 DM (dorsomedial) spines, with a prefemoral process bearing 1–6 additional spines. The posterior margin of the prefemur features a short median groove.

The genital segment is well-developed, extending beyond the distance between the posterior margin of the sternite of the last leg-bearing body segment and the distal tip of the coxopleural process. The sternite of the first genital segment is rounded, convex posteriorly, and possesses a median suture. In males, the sternite of the second genital segment is attached to the penis. The tergite of the genital segment lacks small setae. In males, the gonopods are equipped with small setae, and the penis bears bristles at its apex.

S. subspinipes is aggressive and easily agitated; it is quick to strike when disturbed and highly sensitive to surrounding vibrations. Its primary prey includes spiders, scorpions, and whip scorpions. Its large size allows it to subdue small vertebrates, such as mice or small reptiles. These centipedes tend to attempt to consume almost any living animal they encounter, provided the animal is no longer than their own body.

They capture prey using their front legs, then employ their toxicognaths (venom-delivering appendages) to inject venom. The prey is held firmly by the remaining legs until it becomes incapacitated. When defending themselves or attacking prey, they use their entire body to coil around the target while gripping it with their legs; from this position, they deploy their toxicognaths to deliver a dose of venom.

Males produce capsules containing mature sperm cells (spermatophores). During mating, these capsules are deposited into a storage receptacle within the female’s body (spermatheca). The female then fertilizes her immature eggs (oocytes) and places them in a dark, sheltered location. She lays 50–80 eggs and guards them with great care until they hatch and the young centipedes undergo their first molt. If danger is detected, the mother coils her body around her offspring to protect them. Young centipedes molt once a year and require 3–4 years to reach full adult size. Adult centipedes also molt once a year. They can live for 10 years or more.

The venom typically causes excruciating pain. In one fatal case, a centipede bit a 7-year-old girl on the head, and she passed away 29 hours later.

TAXON

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Scolopendromorpha
Family: Scolopendridae
Subfamily: Scolopendrinae
Genus: Scolopendra Linnaeus (1758)
Species: Scolopendra subspinipes Leach (1815)

SYNONYMS

Otostigmus politoides Attems (1953)
Otostigmus puncticeps Attems (1953)
Rhombocephalus gambiae Newport (1845)
Rhombocephalus smaragdinus Butler (1876)
Scolopendra aringensis Sinclair (1901)
Scolopendra atra Wood (1861)
Scolopendra audax Gervais (1837)
Scolopendra aurantipes Tömösváry (1885)
Scolopendra bispinipes Wood (1862)
Scolopendra borbonica Blanchard (1844)
Scolopendra byssina Wood (1861)
Scolopendra cephalica Wood (1861)

PUBLICATIONS

Dugon, Michel M.; Arthur, Wallace (2012-06-01). "Prey orientation and the role of venom availability in the predatory behaviour of the centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans (Arthropoda: Chilopoda)". Journal of Insect Physiology. 58 (6): 874–880. doi:10.1016/j.jinsphys.2012.03.014. ISSN 0022-1910. PMID 22490529.

Johnston, T. Harvey (1943). "Aboriginal names and utilization of the fauna in the Eyrean region". Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. 67 (2): 243–311.

Kronmüller, Christian (2012). Review of the subspecies of Scolopendra subspinipes Leach, 1815 with the new description of the South Chinese member of the genus Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 named Scolopendra hainanum spec. nov.: (Myriapoda, Chilopoda, Scolopendridae). Spixiana. 35: 19–27.

Siriwut W, Edgecombe GD, Sutcharit C, Tongkerd P, Panha S (2016) A taxonomic review of the centipede genus Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 (Scolopendromorpha, Scolopendridae) in mainland Southeast Asia, with description of a new species from Laos. ZooKeys 590: 1-124. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.590.7950

Species Scolopendra subspinipes Leach, 1815. Department of the Environment and Water Resources (Australia).

VERNACULAR NAME

Chinese (simplified): 模棘蜈蚣 - 弱刺足蜈蚣
Chinese (traditional): 模棘蜈蚣
English: Pacific giant centipede, Hawaiian giant centipede, Vietnamese centipede, Black flame centipede, Hawaiian centipede, Jungle centipede, Orange-legged centipede
French: Scolopendre du Vietnam
Hong Kong: 模棘蜈蚣
Indonesian: Kelabang hutan raksasa Italian: Scolopendra gigante del Pacifico
Japanese: オオムカデ - チャイロオオムカデ
Java: Klabang alas
Macau: 模棘蜈蚣
Spanish: Ciempiés gigante del Pacífico
Taiwan: 模棘蜈蚣
Thai: ตะขาบบ้านดงพญาเย็น

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