An Amazonian giant centipede on a dark surface.

Amazonian giant centipede (*Scolopendra gigantea*).

Creator: Tod Baker

Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0

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Species record

Amazonian Giant Centipede

Scolopendra gigantea

Explore the Amazonian Giant Centipede (Scolopendra gigantea) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

The Amazonian giant centipede is a large predatory centipede recorded in northern Colombia and Venezuela and nearby Caribbean islands. It hunts invertebrates and can also take small vertebrates, subduing prey with venom delivered by modified front legs. It is mainly nocturnal and shelters in moist places such as leaf litter, under rocks, or beneath rotten wood; cave-dwelling individuals have also been reported.

Classification in this archive

  1. Kingdom: Animals
  2. Phylum: Arthropods
  3. Class: Centipedes
  4. Order: Scolopendromorpha
  5. Family: Scolopendridae
  6. Genus: Scolopendra
  7. Species: Scolopendra gigantea

Habitat and distribution

Selected documented locations — not a complete species range.

Habitat
tropical forest, caves
Selected regions
North America, South America
Selected countries
Aruba, Colombia, Curaçao, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

Conservation status

Conservation status not recorded.

Did you know?

  • A giant centipede uses modified front legs to deliver venom and subdue prey.
  • Its many pairs of legs help it move through warm forests, leaf litter, and caves.

More images

A close view of an Amazonian giant centipede.

Close view of an Amazonian giant centipede (*Scolopendra gigantea*).

Creator: Tod Baker

Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0

View image source

Sources and attribution