Scolopendra japonica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Scolopendromorpha
Family: Scolopendridae
Genus: Scolopendra
Species:
S. japonica
Binomial name
Scolopendra japonica
Koch, 1878
Synonyms[1][2]

Otostigmus puncticeps Attems, 1953 Otostigmus politoides Attems, 1953

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, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.[3][4][5][6] They usually grow between 7.5 and 13 centimetres in length.[4][7] It is known by the common names Japanese giant centipede[8] and blue-head centipede.[9]

Habitat and behaviour

S. japonica prefers shaded woods and greenspaces, both flat and mountainous. Like most centipedes, it is nocturnal. S. japonica preys mostly on insects and arachnids including cockroaches, spiders, and crickets. During the day, they hide under leaf litter, rocks, or fallen logs, but sometimes rest on the tips of tree branches. They can be found in residential areas, and can sometimes even enter the home.[5][4]

Taxonomy

S. japonica was first described by Koch in 1878. In 1903, Kraeplin reclassified it as a subspecies of Scolopendra subspinipes. In 2003, it was suggested by Jui-Lung Chao and Hsueh-Wen Chang that it could be a subspecies or geographic variation of Scolopendra multidens. In 2012, it was elevated back to species level by Christian Kronmüller.[3][7]

Morphology

Two colour morphs have been reported in S. japonica, although the only significant variation is in leg colour, which ranges from yellow-brown to red with almost greenish tips.[3][7][4][10] The body is usually dark greenish to brown, and the fangs are tipped with black.[11][4][7] The head and first tergite are dark reddish-green.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Review of the subspecies of Scolopendra subspinipes Leach, 1815 with the new description of the South Chinese member of the genus Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 named Scolopendra hainanum spec. nov" (PDF). Spixiana. München. 35 (1): 19–27. August 2012. ISSN 0341-8391. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  2. ↑ ".:CHILOBASE:". chilobase.biologia.unipd.it.
  3. 1 2 3 Kronmüller, Christian. "Review of the subspecies of Scolopendra subspinipes Leach, 1815 with the new description of the South Chinese member of the genus Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 named Scolopendra hainanum spec. nov" (PDF). Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Scolopendra subspinipes japonica | Treasures of Mt. Takao | TAKAO 599 MUSEUM". Takao599museum.jp. Retrieved 2022-07-23.
  5. 1 2 "Scolopendra japonica". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2022-07-23.
  6. ↑ "Scolopendra japonica L.Koch, 1878". Gbif.org. Retrieved 2022-07-23.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Siriwut, Warut; Edgecombe, Gregory; Sutcharit, Chirasak; Tongkerd, Piyoros; Panha, Somsak (2016-05-17). "A taxonomic review of the centipede genus Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 (Scolopendromorpha, Scolopendridae) in mainland Southeast Asia, with description of a new species from Laos". ZooKeys (590): 1–124. doi:10.3897/zookeys.590.7950. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 4926625. PMID 27408540.
  8. ↑ "Bill Lamar searches for Tarantulas, Scorpions and Bullet Ants in the Amazon Rainforest and Beyond". Exotica Esoterica.
  9. ↑ "アオズムカデ Blue-head Centipede, Scolopendra japonica - Download Free 3D model by ffish.asia / floraZia.com (@ffishAsia-and-floraZia)". Sketchfab.com.
  10. 1 2 Jui-Lung Chao and Hsueh-Wen Chang (August 2003). "The scolopendromorph centipedes (Chilopoda) of Taiwan" (PDF). Taiwanese Chilopoda. Retrieved 28 Jul 2022.
  11. ↑ "Bill Lamar searches for Tarantulas, Scorpions and Bullet Ants in the Amazon Rainforest and Beyond". Exotica Esoterica. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
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