Scolopendra gigantea Linnaeus 1758

Giant centipede

Species recognized by A Minelli, A World Catalogue of Centipedes (Chilopoda) for the Web external link in 
IUCN Red List Status: NOT EVALUATED external link Showing: scientific names

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Table of Contents

Morphology

Physical Description

Source and Additional Information
Supplier
Animal Diversity Web external link
Copyright
©1995-2008, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors. Some rights reserved external link
Author
Catherine Meshew, Southwestern University
Editor
Stephanie Fabritius, Southwestern University
Source URL
View original data object external link
Citation
Meshew, C. 2001. "Scolopendra gigantea" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed October 26, 2009 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Scolopendra_gigantea.html. 

 

Centipedes are dorsoventrally flattened, and their bodies are divided into well-marked segments, each of which is flattened. Each body segment has a pair of legs, which means that there is always an odd number of leg pairs ranging from 21 to 23. Their rear legs are spiny in order to ward off potential predators. The legs on the first body segment are modified into venom-bearing fangs called maxillipeds that centipedes use to hunt their food. They have mandibles, which are a modified pair of legs that end in a sharp claw into which a poison gland opens. The mandibles are used for seizing and killing prey. Centipedes have long, many-jointed antenna, simple or no eyes, and a head covered by a flat shield. Their brain is relatively large and connected with a ventral chain of ganglia. Their heart is a chambered dorsal vessel. Centipedes breath through openings called spiracles, which are located between the upper and lower chitinous shields and just behind the legs. They lead into tracheal chambers that then branch off to supply the various parts of the body with oxygen. Scolopendra gigantea has spiracles located at segments 4,6,8,11,13,15,17,19, and 21. Because of these openings, centipedes can lose a lot of water quickly and dehydration can occur. A normal lifespan for Scolopendra gigantea is about ten years, and this species can grow to be 12 inches long.

 
"Scolopendra gigantea Linnaeus 1758". Encyclopedia of Life, available from "http://www.eol.org/pages/1033085". Accessed 21 Mar 2010.