Scutigera coleoptrata (L., 1758). This is believed to be a European species that has been introduced into North America by man and now occurs throughout the continent. It is often found inside houses in damp, cool spots, like in bathtubs, sinks & drains, and cellars. In this lateral view, you can see that whereas there are 15 pairs of legs and sterna, there are only 7 dorsal plates or tergites, and the 4th tergite is the longest, an adaptation to speed in that this single, inflexible plate provides rigidity at this point to help dampen side to side undulations that impair fast forward motion.Note also the very long legs and the fact that the "knees" of the legs are higher than the body. The body does not sit at the ends of the legs stretched directly out, like a man on stilts, but sits down between the legs like a swing in a swing set.