''Scolopendra metuenda'' is a species of Scolopendrid centipede found on the

Solomon Islands Solomon Islands is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and north-west of Vanuatu. It has a land area of , and a population of approx. 700,000. Its capita ...

. In the exotic pet trade, it is sometimes known as the Solomon Island Centipede. The species was described by

Reginald Innes Pocock Reginald Innes Pocock F.R.S. (4 March 1863 – 9 August 1947) was a British zoologist. Pocock was born in Clifton, Bristol, the fourth son of Rev. Nicholas Pocock and Edith Prichard. He began showing interest in natural history at St. Edward ...

in 1895. No further recorded observations have been made of the species; it is believed to be rare, although it has not yet been assessed by the IUCN.

Appearance

''Scolopendra metuenda'' is usually greenish-brown in colour, with the brown dominating at the rear and an almost black head complemented by greener antennae and legs. The antennae are divided into 19 or 20 segments (

antennomeres Antennae ( antenna), sometimes referred to as "feelers", are paired appendages used for Sensory system, sensing in arthropods. Antennae are connected to the first one or two Segmentation (biology), segments of the arthropod head. They vary widel ...

), the first five smooth and later ones slightly hirsute. The head is mostly smooth with some fine punctures, it is also slightly wider than long. The legs are described by Pocock as "long and slender, nearly four times the length of the head." ''Scolopendra metuenda'' is similar to ''

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 ...

,'' but can be distinguished from the latter by its anal legs and teeth.

References

metuenda Animals described in 1895 {{Myriapoda-stub