DETAILS
- Discipline
NH: ZOOLOGY: INVERTEBRATES: MYRIAPODS (CENTIPEDES, MILLIPEDES)
- Scientific Name
Scolopendra morsitans
- Common Name
Giant Centipede
- Place Collected
United States, California (place collected)
- Form
wet preserved
- Dimensions
overall: 185 mm x 46 mm x 46 mm 185 g
- Description
-
This giant centipede, Scolopendra morsitans, was collected in California, U.S.A. but it has a worldwide distribution.
Giant centipedes are found in tropical and desert regions around the world. They are important predators on invertebrates and small vertebrates and usually hunt at night.
They have 21 to 23 pairs of legs with one pair of legs per body segment. The large jaws at the front are modified legs and are capable of delivering a very painful venomous bite. In some Scolopendra species the bite has been fatal to humans but in most cases it just causes severe local pain, a fever, swelling and weakness.
The female centipede shows some degree of parental care. After she has laid her eggs in soil she sits on top of them until they hatch and then guards the young centipedes until they are ready to fend for themselves. - ID Number
1903.150.e
- Location
In storage
- Terms