It is the biggest representative of scolopendras (up to 26cm) which inhabits the North and West regions of South America and the islands of Trinidad and Jamaica. It feeds on lizards, frogs and birds. The body consists of 21-23 segments; the legs are adapted for fast walking (even running) and for holding tight the prey before poisoning and killing it. 

The poison contains acetylocholine, histamine, serotonin, etc. but it is still not well examined. The poisoning is always accompanied by a local sharp pain (similar to a hornet-sting), and severe swelling, chills, fever (up to 39º), weakness.

Females are more poisonous therefore more dangerous than the males. There’s even a Trinidad song saying “a male scolopendra–bad, a female scolopendra–worse” but some facts about their poisoning effect are very exaggerated.

Peruvian giant yellowleg centipede Scolopendra gigantea

Indeed, some tropical species cause painful biting and inflammation of these parts of the skin where they have crawled over, but this may happen only if the insect feels in danger. Most famous for that is the green Californian scolopendra, Scolopendra heros. Similar poisonous effects causes the species Scolupendra cingulata, which is spred in Europe. 

The scolopendra poison has been known to people since ancient times. It was highly valued by the Chinese folk medicine as a cure for rheumatism, kidney stones, some skin diseases and severe scars. Scolopendras have found one more inbelievable(bearing in mind their outer appearance) application in people’s life: they are used in the Tailandian? and some parts of Africa’s cuisine. Bon appetit!