Asian Giant Centipede

Centipedes are fascinating creatures with a long history as one of the planet's most successful invertebrate predators. Centipedes typically shun the light of day and will most often be found resting safe under rocks, logs and other dark and damp places until night falls and they come out to hunt and find mates. The Japanese Giant Centipede is an animal worthy of respect, and wise Japanese farmers know to handle these animals with caution when they encounter them in the field or discover the leggy animal within their futon bedding.

Centipedes are called mukade (百足) or omukade in Japanese and the king of all mukade in Japan is certainly the Japanese Giant Centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans). Scolopendra centipedes can live as long as 10 years though it takes nearly 4 years for them to reach adult size. Centipedes of this group can grow to a length of 19 centimeters (7.5 inches) and are found in warm climates throughout the world. These large centipedes are popular as terrarium animals and are often sold under the name Vietnamese Centipede.

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The following poem was submitted for this video by YouTube member "reymiland":


"Black and red
ō-yoroi,
A hundred feet
to march on."

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Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Mukade
• Omukade
• Japanese
• Giant
• Centipede
• Tokaido
• Softypapa
• 百足

[unboxingreviewdude]

Is it true they have 100 legs??? Thanks for showning this to us

[softypapa]

@unboxingreviewdude The number of legs can actually vary greatly. I'm not sure of the average number. ~Kurt :-)

[Jimaera]

Wow, Kurt, great job capturing this elusive creature on video. This was a beautiful specimen, and it's uncommon to see home video of these in their natural habitat (most home videos of scolopendrids are taken of pets in captivity).

These most definitely have a poisonous bite; the mandible-like appendages on the sides of the centipede's head are what inject the venom into its prey. The fangs are hollow to conduct the venom and very sharp, and these guys definitely know how to use 'em.

[softypapa]

@Jimaera I'm delighted you enjoyed seeing this video. I was equally thrilled to spot this big fellow hunting along the ground. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and tips. ~Kurt :-)

[beogia05]

@softypapa  is it poisonous?

[softypapa]

@beogia05 Yes, these huge centipedes are indeed venomous though the bite should cause more pain than long term damage. We certainly need to be wary around them though. ~Kurt :-)

[Tool20001]

if i seen that in thewoods i would stomp the shit out of it

[ashlyndenbybaby]

Some please tell me there's no centipede's in Ireland :(

[GUNDAMZGOK]

nice, one bite and someone will get suffer for a week, ye that's really long week...

[1957wasafineyear]

well, there go my chances of sleeping well tonight.

[D0OMZDAYZ]

Japan seems really peaceful

[Austin76711]

@softypapa I like millipeds better.

[boytuhab]

Can it do math?

[RayeDrgn]

Is there where they got the style for their dragons and such?

[indecisiveson]

epic. colors of the legs just so terrifying