Saturday 14 June 2014

Scolopendra subspinipes ( Red Headed Centipede) - Sikkim Insect

Scolopendra subspinipes ( Red Headed Centipede)

Place : Shantinagar, Singtam, East Sikkim,
Date: May 28, 2012
Pic: Shital Pradhan



Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia
Phylum:          Arthropoda
Class:              Chilopoda
Order:            Scolopendromorpha
Family:           Scolopendridae
Genus:            Scolopendra
Species:           S. subspinipes

Binomial name: Scolopendra subspinipes Leach, 1815

Other Names:  Chinese Red Head, Giant Centipede, Jungle Centipede, Orange Legged Centipede, Red Headed Centipede and Vietnamese Centipede.

Special feature: It is among the largest centipedes with a maximum length of 20 cm.

Bites from this species are very painful and may cause severe swelling, weakness or fever. S. subspinipes is the only species of centipede that is reputed to have a human death attributed to it. The reported fatal case was in Philippines in which the centipede bit a seven-year old girl on her head and she lived for another 29 hours. (Source: Wikipedia)



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