Chinese red-headed centipede

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, 1878

The 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 damp environments.

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