Asian Forest Centipede, Chinese Red-Headed Centipede, Vietnamese Centipede
Scolopendra subspinipes
Scolopendridae, Order Scolopendromorpha
Physical Description
Elongated, flattened segmented body with one pair of legs per body segment, prominent head with long antennae and powerful modified legs known as toxicognaths (forcipules) used for injecting venom.
Size Estimate
Typically ranges from 10 to 20 cm in length, depending on age and subspecies.
Coloration & Markings
Characterized by a dark reddish-brown to black body, often with contrasting yellowish or bluish-toned legs and a distinctive reddish head segment.
Web Type
Does not build webs; this is a terrestrial predatory arthropod.
Eye Arrangement
Possesses clustered ocelli (simple eyes) on the sides of the head rather than true compound eyes or typical arachnid eye arrangements.
Leg Characteristics
Numerous pairs of walking legs trailing backward, ending in sharp claws, with the final posterior pair elongated and modified for defense or gripping prey.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Cytotoxic and cardiotoxic venom used to immobilize prey; painful to humans but rarely lethal, causing local swelling, redness, and intense burning pain.
Medical Significance
Medically significant due to painful bites, though generally not life-threatening to healthy adults. Requires washing the wound, cold compresses, and medical attention if severe allergic reactions or secondary infections occur.
Safety Recommendations
Wear gloves when gardening, shake out shoes or clothing left outside, and safely relocate specimens using a container if found indoors rather than handling them directly.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Found across tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and widely introduced globally; prefers damp, dark microhabitats such as under logs, leaf litter, rocks, and occasionally inside damp areas of human structures.
Behavior & Temperament
Aggressive and defensive when disturbed; nocturnal hunter that relies heavily on tactile and chemical cues via its antennae.
Diet & Prey
Carnivorous generalist feeding on insects, spiders, and occasionally small vertebrates like lizards, frogs, or mice using its venomous forcipules to subdue prey.
Seasonal Activity
Most active during warm, humid months, often seeking shelter indoors or under cover during cooler or extremely dry periods.
Description
Although not a spider (it is a centipede), this striking arthropod is often encountered indoors and outdoors in tropical and warm regions. With its reddish head, dark segmented body, and vibrant legs, it is a formidable nocturnal hunter playing an important predatory role.
Key Features
Flattened multi-segmented body, one pair of legs per segment, reddish head with powerful forcipules, and lack of silk-producing organs.
Similar Species
Other large centipedes within the genus Scolopendra, distinguished primarily by color variations, segment counts, and geographic range.
Life Cycle
Females lay clusters of eggs in moist underground cavities or rotting wood, guarding them closely and curling around them until hatching, followed by multiple molting stages before reaching adulthood.
Ecological Importance
Acts as an effective natural pest controller in forest and garden ecosystems by regulating populations of insects and small vertebrates.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by the IUCN, with widespread and stable populations globally.
Interesting Facts
Centipedes are capable of regenerating lost legs partially over successive molts, and some species exhibit maternal care by brooding their eggs.
Photography Tips
Use natural or diffused macro lighting, keep a safe distance to avoid a defensive strike, and capture the entire length of the body and head region for identification.
Identified: 2026-09-21T01:41:36.758230