A large Scolopendra sting can cause immediate severe pain and marked local swelling. Published S. gigantea evidence includes a newborn case, so children and anyone with severe or allergic symptoms need prompt medical assessment. It is not native to the United States.
We identify, we don't diagnose. If you've been bitten or stung and symptoms develop, or you're worried, seek medical attention.
SizeCommonly 20–26 cm; the largest recorded approach 30 cm
MarkingsEnormous — up to about 30 cm, the largest centipede in the world · 21 to 23 pairs of legs, one pair per body segment
WhereRainforest floor, leaf litter, rotting wood and cave systems.
How to tell it apart
Enormous — up to about 30 cm, the largest centipede in the world
21 to 23 pairs of legs, one pair per body segment
Deep reddish-brown to maroon body with contrasting yellow-orange legs
Large, obvious forcipules — the modified front legs that deliver venom
Long trailing rear legs used to grip and manoeuvre
Where you’ll find it
Northern South America and some Caribbean islands. It does not occur in the United States; specimens here are kept animals.
Rainforest floor, leaf litter, rotting wood and cave systems.
How it behaves
It is a capable predator well beyond the usual invertebrate scale — it takes lizards, frogs, rodents and, famously, bats caught in flight by hanging from cave ceilings and striking. It hunts at night and detects prey largely by touch and vibration. Handling is where people get bitten: it is fast, strong, and it grips with the rear legs while striking with the front, which makes it very difficult to put down safely once it is on you.
What a bite looks like
Two puncture marks may be present, with redness and swelling around the site. Appearance alone cannot show how severe an envenomation is.
Immediate burning pain that can be severe and can spread up the affected limb. Scolopendra pain may persist for hours or longer.
We identify, we don't diagnose. In the US, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 after a suspected large Scolopendra sting. Call emergency services for difficulty breathing, swelling of the mouth or throat, collapse or other severe symptoms.
A skin mark cannot confirm which animal caused it. Read the bug bite and sting guide for the limits and the symptoms that should end an online search.
You’ve found one indoors
Do not handle it, and do not free-handle it if you keep one — this is a look-only animal and experienced keepers treat it that way. Use a catch cup and long tongs. If you are in the US and think you have found one outdoors, you have almost certainly found a native Scolopendra instead, which is smaller and much less severe.
Common questions
Does it live in the United States?
No. Scolopendra gigantea is South American and Caribbean. The US has its own large centipedes, including the giant desert centipede, which are smaller and considerably less serious.
Can it kill a person?
The species-specific published case used here describes intense pain and swelling in a newborn, not a death. Most centipede envenomations produce local symptoms, but a photo cannot predict an individual's reaction; use Poison Control or medical services for a real exposure.
Does it really eat bats?
Yes, and it is well documented. It anchors to a cave ceiling with its rear legs and takes bats in flight.
