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ANIMAL FACTS
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Chinese red-headed centipede
Scolopendra subspinipes)
There are few invertebrate genera more infamous for their aggression than Scolopendra. These are some of the largest and highly venomous centipedes on the planet. The Chinese red-headed centipede is one that takes the title for possessing some of the most powerful toxins and has been responsible for human fatalities.
30 to 354 but these will always be an odd number of pairs. They also breathe through openings in the side of their bodies called spiracles.
Like many areas of invertebrate study, the variation between locales and subspecies suggests that there are likely to be hundreds more subspecies of Scolopendra subspinipes yet to be classified. Their wide distribution means that common names for this species include the Vietnamese centipede, orange-legged centipede, Hawaiian centipede, jungle centipede and many more. They are a perfect example why scientific names are preferable, particularly when referring to invertebrates.
