Scolopendra cingulata

Scolopendra cingulata
Scolopendra cingulata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Scolopendromorpha
Family: Scolopendridae
Genus: Scolopendra
Species: S. cingulata
Binomial name
Scolopendra cingulata
Latreille, 1829

Scolopendra cingulata, also known as the Megarian banded centipede,[1] and the Mediterranean banded centipede[2] is a species of centipede,[3][4] and "the most common scolopendromorph species in the Mediterranean area".[5]

Contents

Description

Underside of head showing mandibles

The species has alternating bands of black and yellow-gold.[6] At approximately 10-15 cm, Scolopendra cingulata is one of the smallest species in the family Scolopendridae. Its venom is also not as toxic as that of other scolopendrid centipedes.[2]

Distribution

Widely distributed, this species can be found throughout southern Europe and around the Mediterranean Sea, in such countries as Spain, France, Italy, Greece, North Africa.[2]

Habitat

Scolopendra cingulata is a burrowing animal, preferring dark, damp environments such as beneath logs and in leaf litter.[2]

Behaviour

This species is fast and aggressive.[2]

Diet

Scolopendra cingulata is an opportunistic carnivore. It will attack and consume almost any animal that is not larger that itself. These include insects and small lizards.[2]

References

  1. ^ Digimorph - Scolopendra cingulata (centipede)
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Megarian Banded Centipede Care Sheet". Petbugs.com. http://www.petbugs.com/caresheets/S-cingulata.html. Retrieved 2011-10-27. 
  3. ^ Megarian Banded Centipede Care Sheet
  4. ^ Megarian banded centipede (Scolopendra cingulata) Escolopendra
  5. ^ Stylianos Michail Simaiakis, Sinos Giokas & Zoltán Korsós (2011). "Morphometric and meristic diversity of the species Scolopendra cingulata Latreille, 1829 (Chilopoda: Scolopendridae) in the Mediterranean region". Zoologischer Anzeiger 250 (in press). doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2010.11.006. 
  6. ^ "Megarian banded centipede (Scolopendra cingulata) Escolopendra". Wildsideholidays.com. 2009-02-25. http://www.wildsideholidays.com/natural/insects-and-creepy-crawlies/91-spiders-etc/101-megarian-banded-centipede. Retrieved 2011-10-27. 

External links

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