Scolopendra polymorpha

Scolopendra polymorpha
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Myriapoda
Class:	Chilopoda
Subclass:	Notostigmophora
Order:	Scolopendromorpha
Family:	Scolopendridae
Genus:	Scolopendra
Species:	S. polymorpha
Binomial name
Scolopendra polymorpha Wood, 1861

Scolopendra polymorpha, also known as the tiger centipede, is a species of centipede found in North America.

Distribution

Found in the Southwestern US and northern Mexico.

Identification

7th-12th antennomeres sparsely hirsute; distomedial tubercles of ultimate prefemora with 4-12 (usually 4) distal spurs apiece; eastern border of Central Plains (eastern Nebraska-Texas) to south­ eastern Montana, the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming-New Mexico, northwestern New Mexico to southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon to the Pacific Coast north of San Francisco Bay to the Mexican border (Shelly 2002)

Biology

A predator, S. polymorpha will ambush prey at higher prey densities while resorting to active search in lower densities. Specimens in California can be found after rain, usually on moist soil under rocks. (Shelley 2002)

Toxicology

Reported as harmless allergic reactions notwithstanding, with a possible sharp temporary pain. (Shelly 2002)

Description

S. polymorpha, nobis. S. olivaceo-brunnea, capite dilute castaneo; antennis 30 articulatis, pedibusque luteolis; dente mandibulari tuberculo basali magno; dentibus labialibus 3, maxillis, intimis dubius utrinque coadunatis, externis sejunctis; segmentis tibi margine posteriore nigro-viride, marginis lateralibus plurimque liberis; pedibus postremis robustis, articulo basali inus 7–10 spinis, subtus 8–12 spinis arrato, processu angulari arti bifido aut trifido aut quadrifido; appendicibus analibus lateralibus, singula 4–5 spinis apicalibus. Long. unc. 3.

Praebasilar fold apparent, but connate with the rather large basilar segment. First segment of body very small, suture between scutum and episcutum barely traceable, that between sternum and episternum much more distinct. Basal joint of last pair of legs, above flattened and apparently grooved, below very convex; the internal surface having near to it a proximal end a group of from five to seven spines, and several scattered ones on its distal portion; lower surface with from eight to ten spines disposed 1 in rows. This may be considered the typical arrangement, but we have very numerous departures from it; in some individuals the spines are irregularly scattered over the whole interior and inferior surfaces. The color also varies greatly, shading off from that given above, to a testaceous-duscent, the posterior green bands entirely vanishing. Even the characters drawn from the labial teeth are not constant in this perplexing species, these organs in some individuals being small and coadunate. One of our testaceous specimens has attained to the length of three and one-half inches.

Hab. Fort Riley, Kansas. Presented by Dr. Hammond. (Wood 1861)

References

Shelley, R. M. (2002). A synopsis of the North American centipedes of the order Scolopendromorpha (Chilopoda). Virginia Museum of Natural History.

Wood, H. C., Jr. (1861). Descriptions of new species of Scolopendra in the collection of the Academy. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 13, 10–15. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/17713