Pacific Giant Centipede

Scolopendra subspinipes

Description

Scolopendra subspinipes is red to brownish red in color with yellow to orange legs. It has 22 body segments, each segments has a pair of legs. There is a modified leg called forcipules on its head covered by fat and a pair of antenna with 18 to 19 segments. The forcipules is defense tool against the prey, aside from sharp claws which is connected to venom gland. Scolopendra subspinipes respiration using small holes along its body called spiracles. 

Population Size

unknown

Life Span

-

WEIGHT​

-

LENGTH

22-36 mm

Ar

Arboreal

Ca

Carnivore

No

Nocturnal

So

Solitary

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Arthropoda

CLASS

:

Chilopoda

ORDER

:

Scolopendromorpha

FAMILY

:

Scolopendridae

GENUS

:

Scolopendra

SPECIES

:

Scolopendra subspinipes

Distribution

Scolopendra subspinipes could be found on forest area or another area with sufficient light intensity and not too hot with a lot of shady places to hide.

Geography

Continent : Asia, America, Africa

Country : Russia, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, South Africa, Madagascar, Andaman Islands, Pacific Islands, Bermuda, Central America, Caribbean Islands, Colombia, Guyana, French Guyana, Surinam, Brazil

Habits and Lifestyle

Scolopendra subspinipes is solitary species which is aggressive and ready to fight when disturbed. It will coil the enemy with its whole body and the legs during a fight and penetrate the forcipule to inject the venom and kill its enemy.  Scolopendra subspinipes easily dehydrated in the daylight because they breath to spiracle, it always hide underneath shade in the day and do the activity at night when there is no sunlight.

Lifestyle

Terrestrial, Solitary, Nocturnal, Arboreal

Biome

Tropical rain forest

Climate Zone

Tropical, Sub Tropical

Diet and Nutrition

Scolopendra subspinipes generally feeds on other arthropods such as spiders or scorpions, and other small vertebrates or animals which is longer than them

Diet : Carnivore

Mating Habits

The males Scolopendra subspinipes produced capsule containing sperms and then it will be deposited to female spermatheca when mating. The females lay the egg in dark and protected area, and they also protect the eggs until hatching. 

Reproduction session :

Incubation periods : –

Independent age : 

Baby name : –

Baby carrying : 50-80 eggs

Population

Population status : Not Evaluated (NE)

NE

DD

LC

NT

VU

EN

CR

EW

EX

PHOTO GALLERY

Reference

  1. en.wikipedia.org
  2. mybis.gov.my
  3. researchgate.net
  4. re-tawon.com