''Scolopendra'' (through

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical

centipede Centipedes (from New Latin , "hundred", and Latin , " foot") are predatory arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda (Ancient Greek , ''kheilos'', lip, and New Latin suffix , "foot", describing the forcipules) of the subphylum Myriapoda, an ...

s of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Scolopendridae Scolopendridae (or, in older documents, Scolopendridæ) is a family of large centipedes (class Chilopoda). Nearly all species in this family have four ocelli ( simple eyes) on each side of the head and only 21 pairs of legs, but there are excepti ...

Description

The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the world's tropics and warmer temperate areas. The species vary considerably in coloration and size. ''Scolopendra'' are mostly very large centipedes. The largest species found in tropical climates can exceed and are the largest living centipedes in the world. All ''Scolopendra'' species can deliver a painful

bite Biting is a common zoological behavior involving the active, rapid closing of the jaw around an object. This behavior is found in toothed animals such as mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish, but can also exist in arthropods. Myocytic con ...

, injecting

venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

through their

forcipule Forcipules are the modified, pincer-like, front legs of centipedes that are used to inject venom into prey. They are the only known examples of front legs acting as venom injectors. Nomenclature Forcipules go by a variety of names in both scien ...

s, which are not fangs or other mouthparts; rather, these are modified legs on the first body segment.

Ecology

''Scolopendra'' are active

predator Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill th ...

s, feeding primarily on insects and other invertebrates. Larger specimens have been observed preying on

frogs A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" ''Triadobatrachus'' is ...

tarantula Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,040 species have been identified, with 156 genera. The term "tarantula" is usually used to describe members of the family Theraphosidae, although ...

lizards Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia althou ...

birds Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...

snakes Snakes are elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Many species of snakes have skulls with several more joi ...

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are na ...

s, and even

bat Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most bi ...

s. Two southeast Asian species, '' S. cataracta'' and '' S. paradoxa'', are amphibious, as these species can travel underwater by swimming or walking.

Venom

The venom is not medically significant for most species; however, bites from several species can cause intense and long-lasting pain and swelling. Large ''Scolopendra'' species from Asian/Pacific regions, such as ''

Scolopendra subspinipes ''Scolopendra subspinipes'' is a species of very large centipede found throughout eastern Asia. One of the most widespread and common species in the genus ''Scolopendra'', it is also found on virtually all land areas around and within the Indian ...

'' and ''Scolopendra dehaani'', are particularly potent, and have caused one reported fatality. In 2014, a fatality was reported for a bite from a ''

Scolopendra gigantea ''Scolopendra gigantea'', also known as the Peruvian giant yellow-leg centipede or Amazonian giant centipede, is a centipede in the genus ''Scolopendra''. It is the largest centipede species in the world, with a length exceeding .PDFTandof online ...

''. The venom of certain ''Scolopendra'' species were found to contain compounds such as

serotonin Serotonin () or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter. Its biological function is complex and multifaceted, modulating mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, and numerous physiological processes such as vomiting and vas ...

haemolytic Hemolysis or haemolysis (), also known by several other names, is the rupturing (lysis) of red blood cells (erythrocytes) and the release of their contents (cytoplasm) into surrounding fluid (e.g. blood plasma). Hemolysis may occur in vivo o ...

phospholipase A phospholipase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes phospholipids into fatty acids and other lipophilic substances. Acids trigger the release of bound calcium from cellular stores and the consequent increase in free cytosolic Ca2+, an essential step in ...

, a

cardiotoxic Cardiotoxicity is the occurrence of heart dysfunction as electric or muscle damage, resulting in heart toxicity. The heart becomes weaker and is not as efficient in pumping blood. Cardiotoxicity may be caused by chemotherapy (a usual example is th ...

protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respo ...

, and a

cytolysin Cytolysin refers to the substance secreted by microorganisms, plants or animals that is specifically toxic to individual cells, in many cases causing their dissolution through lysis. Cytolysins that have a specific action for certain cells are n ...

Taxonomic history

''Scolopendra'' was one of the genera created by

Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...

in his 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'', the starting point for

zoological nomenclature The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) is a widely accepted convention in zoology that rules the formal scientific naming of organisms treated as animals. It is also informally known as the ICZN Code, for its publisher, the In ...

. Only two of the species originally assigned to the genus remain so: ''

'' and '' S. morsitans''; the latter was chosen to be the

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

by Opinion 454 of the

International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) is an organization dedicated to "achieving stability and sense in the scientific naming of animals". Founded in 1895, it currently comprises 26 commissioners from 20 countries. Orga ...

, overruling a previous designation by

Pierre André Latreille Pierre André Latreille (; 29 November 1762 – 6 February 1833) was a French zoologist, specialising in arthropods. Having trained as a Roman Catholic priest before the French Revolution, Latreille was imprisoned, and only regained his freedom ...

, in which he chose Linnaeus' ''Scolopendra forficata'' (now ''

Lithobius forficatus ''Lithobius forficatus'', most commonly known as the brown centipede or stone centipede, is a common European centipede of the family Lithobiidae, although its distribution is not exclusive to Europe. It is between 18 and 30 mm long and up ...

'') as the type species.

Species

The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains these species: *''

Scolopendra abnormis ''Scolopendra abnormis'', the Serpent Island centipede, is a species of centipede in the family Scolopendridae that is endemic to Mauritius Mauritius ( ; french: Maurice, link=no ; mfe, label= Mauritian Creole, Moris ), officially the R ...

'' Lewis & Daszak, 1996 *''

Scolopendra afer ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Classic Greek, Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family (biology) , family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of ce ...

'' (Meinert, 1886) *''

Scolopendra alcyona ''Scolopendra alcyona'', known in Japanese as 琉神大百足 ( ryûjin-ômukade, Ryujin giant centipede) and in English as the Halcyon giant centipede, is a species of amphibious centipede found in the Ryukyu Archipelago of Japan and Taiwan. It ...

'' Tsukamoto & Shimano, 2021 *'' Scolopendra algerina'' Newport, 1845 *'' Scolopendra alternans'' Leach, 1813 *''

Scolopendra andhrensis ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Classic Greek, Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family (biology) , family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of ce ...

'' Jangi & Dass, 1984 *'' Scolopendra angulata'' Newport, 1844 *''

Scolopendra angusticollis ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Classic Greek, Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family (biology) , family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of ce ...

'' Murray, 1887 *'' Scolopendra anomia'' Newport, 1844 *''

Scolopendra appendiculata ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the worl ...

'' Daday, 1891 *'' Scolopendra arborea'' Lewis, 1982 *''

Scolopendra arenicola ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Classic Greek, Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family (biology) , family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of ce ...

'' (Lawrence, 1975) *'' Scolopendra arthrorhabdoides'' Ribaut, 1912 *'' Scolopendra attemsi'' Lewis, Minelli & Shelley, 2006 *'' Scolopendra aztecorum'' Verhoeff, 1934 *''

Scolopendra calcarata ''Scolopendra calcarata'' is a species of centipede in the family Scolopendridae Scolopendridae (or, in older documents, Scolopendridæ) is a family of large centipedes (class Chilopoda). Nearly all species in this family have four ocelli (sim ...

'' Porat, 1876 *'' Scolopendra canidens'' Newport, 1844 * ''

Scolopendra cataracta ''Scolopendra cataracta'' is a species of centipede in the family Scolopendridae. It is the first known amphibious centipede, growing to up to in length. Discovery George Beccaloni, an entomologist and curator at the Natural History Museum, L ...

'' Siriwut, Edgecombe & Panha, 2016 *'' Scolopendra childreni'' Newport, 1844 *'' Scolopendra chlora'' Chamberlin, 1942 *'' Scolopendra chlorotes'' C. L. Koch, 1856 *''

Scolopendra cingulata ''Scolopendra cingulata'', also known as Megarian banded centipede, and the Mediterranean banded centipede, is a species of centipede, and "the most common scolopendromorph species in the Mediterranean area". Description The species has alterna ...

'' Latreille, 1829 *''

Scolopendra clavipes ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the world' ...

'' C. L. Koch, 1847 *'' Scolopendra concolor'' Newport, 1845 *''

Scolopendra crassa ''Scolopendra crassa'' is a species of centipede in the family Scolopendridae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. The last taxonomic scrutiny was done in 1930 by Attems The House of Attems (Attimis in Italian) is the name of an ancient and illustrious ...

'' Templeton, 1846 *''

Scolopendra cretica ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the world' ...

'' Attems, 1902 *''

Scolopendra cribrifera ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Classic Greek, Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family (biology) , family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of ce ...

'' Gervais, 1847 *'' Scolopendra crudelis'' C. L. Koch, 1847 *'' Scolopendra dalmatica'' C. L. Koch, 1847 *''

Scolopendra dawydoffi ''Scolopendra dawydoffi'' is a species of large Scolopendrid centipede found in Southeast Asia, specifically in Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. It has bright reddish-orange and black colouration (and should thus not be confused with '' S. ...

'' Kronmüller, 2012 *'' Scolopendra dehaani'' Brandt, 1840 *''

Scolopendra ellorensis ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the world' ...

'' Jangi & Dass, 1984 *''

Scolopendra fissispina ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the worl ...

'' L. Koch, 1865 *''

Scolopendra foveolata ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the worl ...

'' Verhoeff, 1937 *''

Scolopendra galapagoensis ''Scolopendra galapagoensis,'' also known as the Galápagos centipede and Darwin's goliath centipede, is species of very large centipede in the family Scolopendridae. It is the only representative of the genus ''Scolopendra'' on the Galapagos Is ...

'' Bollman, 1889 *''

Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...

1758 Events January–March * January 1 – Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus (Carl von Linné) publishes in Stockholm the first volume (''Animalia'') of the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'', the sta ...

*'' Scolopendra gracillima'' Attems, 1898 *''

Scolopendra hainanum ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the world' ...

'' Kronmüller, 2012 *''

Scolopendra hardwickei ''Scolopendra hardwickei'', the Indian tiger centipede, is a species of centipede in the family Scolopendridae Scolopendridae (or, in older documents, Scolopendridæ) is a family of large centipedes (class Chilopoda). Nearly all species in thi ...

'' Newport, 1844 *'' Scolopendra hermosa'' Chamberlin, 1941 *''

Scolopendra heros ''Scolopendra heros'', commonly known as the giant desert centipede, giant Sonoran centipede, Texas redheaded centipede, and giant redheaded centipede, is a species of North American centipede found in the Southwestern United States and Northe ...

'' Girard, 1853 *'' Scolopendra horrida'' C. L. Koch, 1847 *'' Scolopendra inaequidens'' Gervais, 1847 *''

Scolopendra indiae ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the world' ...

'' (Chamberlin, 1914) *'' Scolopendra indica'' Meinert, 1886 *'' Scolopendra inermipes'' C. L. Koch, 1847 *''

Scolopendra inermis ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the world' ...

'' Newport, 1845 *''

Scolopendra jangii ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the world' ...

'' Khanna & Yadav, 1997 *''

Scolopendra japonica ''Scolopendra japonica'', formerly classified as ''Scolopendra subspinipes japonica'', is a species of scolopendrid centipede mostly found in Japan, although specimens have been reported in other parts of Eastern Asia such as China, Taiwan, Myan ...

'' Koch, 1878 *'' Scolopendra koreana'' (Verhoeff, 1934) *'' Scolopendra labiata'' C. L. Koch, 1863 *'' Scolopendra laeta'' Haase, 1887 *''

Scolopendra langi ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Classic Greek, Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family (biology) , family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of ce ...

'' (Chamberlin, 1927) *'' Scolopendra latro'' Meinert, 1886 *''

Scolopendra limicolor ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the worl ...

'' Wood, 1861 *''

Scolopendra lucasii ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the world' ...

'' Gervais, 1847 *'' Scolopendra lufengia'' S. Kang ''et al.'', 2017 *''

Scolopendra lutea ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the world' ...

'' (Attems, 1928) *''

Scolopendra madagascariensis ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Classic Greek, Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family (biology) , family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of ce ...

'' Attems, 1910 *''

Scolopendra malkini ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the world' ...

'' Chamberlin, 1955 *'' Scolopendra mazbii'' Gravely, 1912 *''

Scolopendra media ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Classic Greek, Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family (biology) , family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of ce ...

'' (Muralewicz, 1926) *'' Scolopendra melionii'' Lucas, 1853 *''

Scolopendra metuenda ''Scolopendra metuenda'' is a species of Scolopendridae, Scolopendrid centipede found on the Solomon Islands. In the exotic pet trade, it is sometimes known as the Solomon Island Centipede. The species was described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1 ...

'' Pocock, 1895 *'' Scolopendra michoacana'' Chamberlin, 1941 *'' Scolopendra mima'' Chamberlin, 1942 *'' Scolopendra mirabilis'' (Porat, 1876) *''

Scolopendra monticola ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the world' ...

'' (Lawrence, 1975) *''

Scolopendra morsitans ''Scolopendra morsitans'', also known as the Tanzanian blue ringleg or red-headed centipede, is a species of centipede in the family Scolopendridae. ''S. morsitans'' is the type species for the genus ''Scolopendra''. Adult Tanzanian blue ringlegs ...

*''

Scolopendra multidens ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the world' ...

'' Newport, 1844 *''

Scolopendra negrocapitis ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the worl ...

'' Zhang & Wang, 1999 *'' Scolopendra nuda'' (Jangi & Dass, 1980) *''

Scolopendra occidentalis ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Classic Greek, Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family (biology) , family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of ce ...

'' F. Meinert, 1886 *''

Scolopendra octodentata ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the worl ...

'' Verhoeff, 1934 *'' Scolopendra oraniensis'' Lucas, 1846 *''

Scolopendra paradoxa ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the world' ...

'' Doménech, 2018 *'' Scolopendra pachygnatha'' Pocock, 1895 *'' Scolopendra paranuda'' (Khanna & Tripathi, 1987) *'' Scolopendra pentagramma'' Motschoulsky, 1886 *'' Scolopendra pinguis'' Pocock, 1891 *''

Scolopendra polymorpha ''Scolopendra polymorpha'', the common desert centipede, tiger centipede, banded desert centipede, or Sonoran Desert centipede is a centipede species found in western North America. Description Their bodies generally reach in length. Coloratio ...

'' Wood, 1861 *''

Scolopendra pomacea ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Classic Greek, Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family (biology) , family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of ce ...

'' C. L. Koch, 1847 *'' Scolopendra puncticeps'' Wood, 1861 *''

Scolopendra punensis ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Classic Greek, Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family (biology) , family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of ce ...

'' Jangi & Dass, 1984 *''

Scolopendra robusta ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the world' ...

'' Kraepelin, 1903 *'' Scolopendra sanatillae'' Bollman, 1893 *'' Scolopendra silhetensis'' Newport, 1845 *'' Scolopendra spinipriva'' Bücherl, 1946 *''

Scolopendra spinosissima ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Classic Greek, Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family (biology) , family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of ce ...

'' Kraepelin, 1903 *''

'' Leach, 1816 *'' Scolopendra sumichrasti'' Saussure, 1860 *'' Scolopendra tenuitarsis'' Pocock, 1895 *''

Scolopendra valida ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Classic Greek, Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family (biology) , family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of ce ...

'' Lucas, 1840 *'' Scolopendra violacea'' Fabricius, 1798 *''

Scolopendra viridicornis ''Scolopendra viridicornis'' is a species of centipede in the family Scolopendridae which can be found within the Amazon rainforest, the type locality being in Brazil. Due to the geographic distribution of this species it is known as the Amazonian ...

'' Newport, 1844 *'' Scolopendra viridipes'' Dufour, 1820 *'' Scolopendra viridis'' Say, 1821 *''

Scolopendra zuluana ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Classic Greek, Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family (biology) , family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of ce ...

'' (Lawrence, 1958) One

fossil A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved ...

species, †''

Scolopendra proavita ''Scolopendra'' (through Latin from Greek , ''skolopendra'') is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae. Description The genus ''Scolopendra'' contains many species of centipedes found across the world' ...

'', is known from

Baltic amber The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic amber or succinite. It was produced sometime during the Eocene epoch, but exactly when is controversial. It has been estimated that these forests created more than 1 ...

deposits from the

Eocene The Eocene ( ) Epoch is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), Era. The name ''Eocene' ...

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...

. Fossil remains of a species tentatively assigned to '' S. morsitans'' (as ''S. (cf)'' ''morsitans'') are also known from

Pliocene The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.333 million to 2.58Makapansgat Makapansgat () (or Makapan Valley World Heritage Site) is an archaeological location within the Makapansgat and Zwartkrans Valleys, northeast of Mokopane in Limpopo province, South Africa. It is an important palaeontological site, with the local ...

of South Africa.

References