Scolopendra heros

Scolopendra heros
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Scolopendromorpha
Family: Scolopendridae
Genus: Scolopendra
Species: S. heros
Binomial name
Scolopendra heros
Girard, 1853

Scolopendra heros is a species of centipede found in North America.

Description

S. heros has an average length of 6.5 inches (170 mm), but can reach up to 8 in (200 mm).[1] Its trunk bears 21 or 23 pairs of legs.[2] It is aposematically colored, to warn off potential predators, and a number of color variants are known in the species.[1]

Distribution and ecology

S. heros is found in northern Mexico and the southern United States, from New Mexico and Arizona in the west, to Arkansas and Missouri in the east.[1] It remains underground on warm days, emerging in cloudy weather.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c Jeffrey K. Barnes (June 21, 2002). "Giant redheaded centipede". Arthropod Museum Notes 13. University of Arkansas. http://www.uark.edu/ua/arthmuse/sheros.html. 
  2. ^ Thomas Eisner, Maria Eisner & Melody Siegler (2005). "Scolopendra heros (the giant Sonoran centipede)". Secret weapons: defenses of insects, spiders, scorpions, and other many-legged creatures. Harvard University Press. pp. 29–32. ISBN 9780674018822. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=rjPZWwhS7GUC&pg=PA29. 
  3. ^ J. G. E. Lewis (2005). "Physiology and ecology". The Biology of Centipedes. Cambridge University Press. pp. 375–406. ISBN 9780521034111. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=AEp22u6tJgsC&pg=PA394.