Giant Desert Centipede (Scolopendra heros)
Giant Desert Centipede (Scolopendra heros)
The Giant Desert Centipede (Scolopendra heros) is a North American centipede that occupies the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. The species occupies rocky woodland areas, and it stays underground in warm weather, emerging in cloudy weather. With a number of color variations, the Giant Desert Centipede is aposematically colored to warn off potential predators. The castaneiceps variation in Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas has a red head and greenish black body and tail. As a nocturnal predator, the Giant Desert Centipede uses its venom to hunt small invertebrates, including rodents, reptiles, and amphibians.
The Giant Desert Centipede has an overall length between 6.7”-7.9” (17-20 cm) and width of .47”-.63” (12-16 mm). The typical lifespan of the Giant Desert Centipede is between 3-6 years.
The Giant Desert Centipede (Scolopendra heros) is a North American centipede that occupies the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. The species occupies rocky woodland areas, and it stays underground in warm weather, emerging in cloudy weather. With a number of color variations, the Giant Desert Centipede is aposematically colored to warn off potential predators. The castaneiceps variation in Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas has a red head and greenish black body and tail. As a nocturnal predator, the Giant Desert Centipede uses its venom to hunt small invertebrates, including rodents, reptiles, and amphibians.
The Giant Desert Centipede has an overall length between 6.7”-7.9” (17-20 cm) and width of .47”-.63” (12-16 mm). The typical lifespan of the Giant Desert Centipede is between 3-6 years.
