Scolopendra cingulata

Scolopendra cingulata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Scolopendromorpha
Family: Scolopendridae
Genus: Scolopendra
Species: S. cingulata
Binomial name
Scolopendra cingulata
Latreille, 1829

Scolopendra cingulata, also known as Megarian banded centipede,[1] and the Mediterranean banded centipede,[2] is a species of centipede,[3] and "the most common scolopendromorph species in the Mediterranean area".[4]

Description

Underside of head showing mandibles

The species has alternating bands of black and yellow-gold.[5] At approximately 10–15 centimetres (3.9–5.9 in), Scolopendra cingulata is one of the smallest species in the family Scolopendridae. Its venom is also not as toxic as that of other scolopendrid centipedes.[2]

Distribution

Widely distributed, this species can be found throughout southern Europe and around the Mediterranean Sea, in such countries as Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece, as well as parts of North Africa.[2] and India also.

Habitat

Scolopendra cingulata is a burrowing animal, preferring dark, damp environments such as beneath logs and in leaf litter.[2]

Behaviour

This species is fast and aggressive.[2]

Diet

Scolopendra cingulata is an opportunistic carnivore. It will attack and consume almost any animal that is not larger than itself. These include insects and small lizards.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Digimorph - Scolopendra cingulata (centipede)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Megarian Banded Centipede Care Sheet". Petbugs.com. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
  3. ↑ Megarian banded centipede (Scolopendra cingulata) Escolopendra
  4. ↑ Stylianos Michail Simaiakis, Sinos Giokas & Zoltán Korsós (2011). "Morphometric and meristic diversity of the species Scolopendra cingulata Latreille, 1829 (Chilopoda: Scolopendridae) in the Mediterranean region". Zoologischer Anzeiger - A Journal of Comparative Zoology 250 (1): 67–79. doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2010.11.006.
  5. ↑ "Megarian banded centipede (Scolopendra cingulata) Escolopendra". Wildsideholidays.com. 2009-02-25. Retrieved 2011-10-27.

External links