The giant scolopendra is included in the list of the most dangerous animals. In addition, it has a repulsive appearance and has one unpleasant feature - it is completely not afraid of people. It is a cold-blooded predator that preys not only on small invertebrates and beetles, but also on lizards, birds, mice and frogs.
Scolopendra species
In the world there are about 600 species of these predators. They belong to the genus of the leg-footed millipedes from the order Skolopendrovy. Bright representatives of these animals are the California scolopendra, the ringed and scolopendra Lucas. The first reaches 20 centimeters in length and is found in the arid regions of Mexico and the United States. This species has one unpleasant feature - in an alarming state, the animal causes inflammation of the human skin in the place of its contact with the limbs of this millipede. At rest, the California scolopendra is not dangerous.
Ringed scolopendra is found in the countries of the Mediterranean basin, in Southern Europe, North Africa and in the south of Russia. It is widespread in the Crimea. The average body length is 14 centimeters, but some individuals reach 170 millimeters. This species has a beautiful golden yellow color. Like other members of the Scolopendridae family, the annular scolopendra has poisonous glands.
The largest of the millipedes - Scolopendra gigantea
The giant scolopendra, reaching an average of 25-26 centimeters, is the largest representative of the Scolopendridae family. Cases of the capture of animals 30 centimeters long are described. The habitat of this predator is the tropical forests of Central and South America, the islands of Trinidad and Jamaica, Venezuela.
Lifestyle
Skolopendra is giant, like all other representatives of the genus Millipedes, is thermophilic and lives exclusively in countries with a warm or tropical climate. This is a nocturnal predator that feels uncomfortable during the day in open spaces. All scolopendras run very fast, but the giant one is especially fast.
Scolopendras live mainly underground or in shelters, because their body does not have strong protection and quickly loses moisture.
She prefers to hunt on small underground invertebrates: larvae, earthworms and beetles. A giant scolopendra can catch and kill a small lizard, a frog, a bird, a mouse, and even a small snake. Caught by a predator and bats. To do this, she climbs to the ceiling where the victim is sleeping, clings to the surface with several claws, and attacks with her front legs, entwining a bat and introducing poison into it.
Scolopendras are bright individualists and prefer to live alone. However, the meeting of two males most often occurs quite peacefully. This species of millipedes has cannibalism. Most often this happens in captivity, when a hungry adult is able to eat young. In nature, this happens quite rarely.
Anatomy
The body of the scolopendra consists of two parts: the head and the long body. It is divided into segments. Their number varies from 21 to 23. All of them are equipped with a pair of legs of light yellow color, which end with a pointed spike. Their average length is 2.5 centimeters. Each of them has a poisonous gland. Therefore, when the legs of the scolopendra come in contact with human skin, inflammation occurs.
The head is a plate with eyes, two antennae and a pair of jaws. During evolution, the legs of the first segment of the trunk of the scolopendra turned into poisonous claws.
The last pair of legs is also different from the rest - they are larger in size and directed back. The hind legs help the animal when moving along earthen burrows and during hunting, acting as a kind of anchor.
The giant scolopendra has a beautiful copper-red or brown color. Color can range from yellowish to red, blue, green, and purple. The color of the animal changes with age, and even in individuals of the same species, it can vary significantly.
The body of the predator consists of plates that are interconnected by flexible membranes and protected by an exoskeleton. Giant scolopendra - soft-bodied animal. A chitinous exoskeleton that does not grow, this species of millipedes, like many invertebrates, has to be reset from time to time. This process is called molting.
Maintenance and care
A giant scolopendra, whose bite is extremely painful for humans, is often held in captivity by millipede lovers. It is interesting to watch her, but she must be kept with care - this is a fast and aggressive animal. Inexperienced lovers are better off giving up such a dangerous “pet” because of the very likely possibility of being bitten. Since the scolopendras are flat and flexible, they can squeeze into a small gap and slip out of the terrarium. They live in captivity for a long time - up to 7 years.
It is necessary to maintain a relatively high humidity of the soil and air - animals are very sensitive to this indicator.
Scolopendras feed in captivity on cockroaches, mealworm larvae and crickets. They eat slowly and infrequently. They are recommended to give food 1-2 times a week.
Giant scolopendra: what threatens a meeting with a millipede
The danger of these predators is greatly exaggerated. All scolopendras have poisonous glands that produce poison, but many of them are harmless to humans, because they simply can not bite through the skin. These are cryptops, or blind scolopendras, and drupes. A flycatcher living in houses can only bite for self-defense purposes. Most often, they cannot bite through her jaw. But if this happened, the bite will be equal in strength to a bee.
What does a scolopendra bite look like? It depends on the type of millipede. When biting the skin, the animal secretes poison, which causes burning, pain and swelling. The bite may also be accompanied by nausea and dizziness.
Giant scolopendra venom is particularly toxic. It causes severe swelling (the hand may swell up to the shoulder) and high fever. These symptoms persist for several days.
The only documented death from a scolopendra bite is the death of a child from Scolopendra subspinipes venom. This species has several names: Chinese, Vietnamese or orange scolopendra.
Some species of these predators, in an alarming state, secrete a protective fluid, which, in contact with the skin, causes burns. This feature is, for example, the California scolopendra.
After a millipede bite, you need to rinse the wound, apply a cold and consult a doctor. Usually prescribe a group of analgesics and prophylaxis of tetanus.
The most dangerous females are millipedes (they are more toxic) for young children, people with weakened immune systems and allergies.
How to protect yourself from a bite of a scolopendra in nature
You can not take a scolopendra with your bare hands. In habitats of scolopendras it is not recommended to spend the night outside the tent. Wearing shoes and clothes, you should first inspect it. When turning stones, you need to be careful. It should be remembered that the centipede is not an insect, and the fumigators do not act on it.
Giant scolopendra in facts: the most interesting thing about the predatory millipede
- It’s difficult to kill this predator. Firstly, all types of scolopendras run very fast. Secondly, they are so flat that they simply squeeze into the ground, and it is almost impossible to crush them.
- Even the ancient Greeks called skolopendra all kinds of millipedes.
- In South Africa, a rizid lives - a blue scolopendra.
- In Thailand and Africa, these animals are eaten.