Scolopendra subspinipes

The biggest centipede I've ever seen in my life! Almost as long as the 42 size foot of my husband! Seen at night just in the terrace of our cabin in Halmahera.

comments (4)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Whoa, what a beast!

I do wonder about the species ID. This is a South American species. It's of course possible that species end up on the other end of the world but can't find much evidence for it in this case for this species.

It looks like the Scolopendra genus does have a handful species known to occur in Indonesia. And they all seem giant and fairly similar in appearance. A species like Scolopendra subspinipes would statistically be a candidate, although I don't know how to tell the species apart in this genus. Posted one year ago
1. Patomarazul
  
  Lion
  
  You are most likely right. I based my ID on the picture I saw in Wikipedia:
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scolopendra_gigantea
  
  I have no idea on the sps in Indonesia. I will remove the sp, helas :-)
  Posted one year ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Thanks, in any case, the observation remains spectacular. Did it move fast?
    As for the species ID, I think it's between about 4 within the genus known to occur in Indonesia. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to distinguish them. Just saying it may still be possible to come to an ID with external help. Posted one year ago
  2. 1. Patomarazul
      
      Lion
      
      I add it as S subspinipes based on what I see online and by appearance exclusion with the other three sp. And at the moment we saw it was at night and was about to hide under our terrace so I did not see it moving fast :-) Posted one year ago

The Pacific Giant Centipede

''Scolopendra subspinipes'' is a species of centipede. The native range is uncertain. The certain natural range is Meganesia and Indomalaya. The species is also found on virtually all land areas around and within the Indian Ocean, all of Tropical and Subtropical Asia , South and Central America, and the Caribbean. However, how much of this range is natural and how much due to human introduction is unclear.

Info 6 0

Similar species: Tropical Centipedes

Species identified by Patomarazul

By Patomarazul

Uploaded Mar 11, 2021. Captured Nov 10, 2019 13:18 in Unnamed Road, Sawai Itepo, Weda Tengah, Kabupaten Halmahera Tengah, Maluku Utara, Indonesia.

Explore Indonesia 8,719 1,954 0

SP-820UZ
f/4.8
10/800s
ISO800
20.6mm

Captured in the fall. More fall photos.