Species Scolopendra heros - Giant Redheaded Centipede

Classification · Size · Identification · Range · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

Giant Red-Headed Centipede - Scolopendra heros

Scolopendra heros arizonensis - Scolopendra heros

Black-Headed Centipede - Scolopendra heros

Subspecies arizonensis? - Scolopendra heros

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Myriapoda (Myriapods)

Class Chilopoda (Centipedes)

Order Scolopendromorpha (Tropical Centipedes)

Family Scolopendridae

Genus Scolopendra

Species heros (Giant Redheaded Centipede)

Size

avg. ~6.5" (up to 8"); our largest centipede (Dr Rowland Shelley)

Identification

many color variants

Range

so.-c. & sw. US (map)(1) and northern Mexico. "It ranges southward about 1/4 of the way into Mexico, and has not been found west of the Colorado River in CA" (Dr Rowland Shelley)

Remarks

About its poisonous bites see: comment by Rowland M. Shelley, Ph. D

Internet References

Fact sheet by J.K. Barnes

Works Cited

1.	The centipede order Scolopendromorpha in North America, by R.M. Shelley

Contributed by Lynette Schimming on 13 October, 2005 - 6:10am
Additional contributions by john and jane balaban, Beatriz Moisset, Mike Quinn, v belov, Harsi S. Parker
Last updated 13 November, 2011 - 3:36pm

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