- Chinese red-headed centipede
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Chinese red-headed centipede Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Chilopoda Order: Scolopendromorpha Family: Scolopendridae Genus: Scolopendra Species: S. subspinipes Trinomial name Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans
L. Koch, 1878The Chinese red-headed centipede, also known as the Chinese red head, (Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans) is a centipede from East Asia and Australasia. [1] It averages 20 cm (8 inches) in length and lives in an aquatic environment.
In ancient Chinese traditions, this centipede is used for its healing properties. It is said that putting a Chinese red head on a rash or other skin-disease will speed up the healing process.
Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans is known for harbouring little aggression to other centipedes, a trait very rare amongst giant centipedes and allows it to be kept communally.
Females are incubatoral mothers, guarding the eggs by wrapping their body around the clutch until it hatches.
References
- ^ "Australian Faunal Directory: Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans". Australian Department of the Environment and Heritage. http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/abrs/fauna/details.pl?pstrVol=CHILOPODA;pstrTaxa=428;pstrChecklistMode=2. Retrieved 10 June 2006.
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