Scolopendra

This page is about a genus that contains extinct and extant species; species marked with † are extinct.

## Statistics

### Diet

Carnivorous

*Scolopendra* (Skolopendra in Latin and Greek; σκολόπενδρα) is a genus of large centipedes that lived from the Eocene, to the Oligocene, to modern day in tropical regions nearly worldwide.

## Description

Species of *Scolopendra* vary considerably in size and colouration. Most species, however, are very large insects. The largest species residing in the tropics easily exceed 30 centimeters (12 inches), taking the record for the largest centipedes in the world. Most species are known to inject a potent venom through their forcipules, which themselves are modified legs rather than fangs or mouthparts. *Scolopendra* are very active predators. They feed primarily on smaller insects and other invertebrates, but have been observed hunting frogs, tarantulas, lizards, birds, rodents and bats. One species that lives in southeast Asia, *C. cataracta*, is known to be amphibious, walking and swimming actively underwater. This is one of the only amphibious centipedes known. The venom of *Scolopendra* is usually ignored, as it has little to no effect on humans. Some species' bites cause great pain and swelling that lasts a long time wen bitten. *S. subspinipes* and *S. dehaani* are particularly potent. One reported fatality belongs to these species. In 2014, another fatality was reported, this time caused by *S. gigantea*. Because of this incident, the venom on an indeterminate *Scolopendra* species was examined. It contained the compounds serotonin, haemolytic phospholipase, an unknown cardiotoxic protein and cytolysin. *S. proavita* is known from Eocene/Oligocene Baltic amber. The type of *S. proavita* is housed in the Danziger Naturkundemuseum Menge collection.

## Species

* *S. abnormis*
* *S. afer*
* *S. algerina*
* *S. alternans*
* *S. andhrensis*
* *S. angulata*
* *S. angusticollis*
* *S. anomia*
* *S. appendiculata*
* *S. arborea*
* *S. arenicola*
* *S. arthrorhabdoides*
* *S. attemsi*
* *S. aztecorum*
* *S. calcarata*
* *S. canidens*
* *S. cataracta*
* *S. childreni*
* *S. chlora*
* *S. chlorotes*
* *S. congulata*
* *S. clavipes*
* *S. concolor*
* *S. crassa*
* *S. cretica*
* *S. cribrifera*
* *S. crudelis*
* *S. dalmatica*
* *S. dawydoffi*
* *S. dehaani*
* *S. ellorensis*
* *S. fissispina*
* *S. foveolata*
* *S. galapagoensis*
* *S. gigantea*
* *S. gracillima*
* *S. hainanum*
* *S. hardwickei*
* *S. hermosa*
* *S. heros*
* *S. horrida*
* *S. inaequidens*
* *S. indiae*
* *S. indica*
* *S. inermipes*
* *S. inermis*
* *S. jangii*
* *S. japonica*
* *S. koreana*
* *S. labiata*
* *S. laeta*
* *S. langi*
* *S. latro*
* *S. limicolor*
* *S. lucasii*
* *S. lutea*
* *S. madagascariensis*
* *S. malkini*
* *S. mazbii*
* *S. media*
* *S. melionii*
* *S. metuenda*
* *S. michoacana*
* *S. mima*
* *S. mirabilis*
* *S. monticola*
* *S. morsitans*
* *S. multidens*
* *S. negrocapitis*
* *S. nuda*
* *S. occidentalis*
* *S. octodentata*
* *S. oraniensis*
* *S. paradoxa*
* *S. pachygnatha*
* *S. paranuda*
* *S. pentagramma*
* *†S. proavita*
* *S. pomacea*
* *S. puncticeps*
* *S. punensis*
* *S. robusta*
* *S. sanatillae*
* *S. silhetensis*
* *S. spinipriva*
* *S. spinosissima*
* *S. subspinipes*
* *S. sumichrasti*
* *S. tenuitarsis*
* *S. valida*
* *S. violacea*
* *S. viridicornis*
* *S. viridipes*
* *S. viridis*
* *S. zuluana*

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scolopendra
* http://fossilworks.org/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon\_no=304880