General Information

COMMON NAMES: Brown Centipede; German Hundertfüsser TRADITIONAL NAMES: Veri Tara (RR MG MT), Veri Ngāra‘u (AK), Veli Tala [=smaller sp.] (TS), Veri Tara [=smaller sp.] (TW)EXOTIC EXOTIC circumtropical, including New Guinea - Tuamotu, Hawai‘i, NZ COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Introduced - Recent, Naturalised; S.Group - common; Land SIGNIFICANCE LIST: ; Poisonous sting - serious pain, no fatalities known KEY FEATURES: To 15cm. Dark brown. Body long and flattened, legs 21 pairs with pair of long legs at rear. The first pair of legs have evolved into hardened fangs that inject poison from internal glands. YOUNG bluish or greenish.

Cook Islands Distribution

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Southern Group: Present    Makatea:
RR	MG	AT	MK	MT	AK	PL	TK	MN
+++	P

Northern Group:
TN	MH	RK	PK	NS	SW

Scolopendra subspinipes Leach
TAXONOMY: ANIMALIA; ARTHROPODA; ATELOCERATA; CHILOPODA; Scolopendromorpha; SCOLOPENDRIDAE

SIGNIFICANCE NOTES -
NEGATIVE SIGNIFICANCE: Poisonous sting - serious pain, no fatalities known. Comments: NBSAP - Te Au-o-Tonga (8 of 11 animal pests), NBSAP - Takitumu (8 of 9 animal pests)

GENERAL NOTE: The fang appendages are the modified legs of the first segment, they are called maxillipedes or taxocognaths. They have venom glands in the penultimate segment and can inject various enzymes and the amine seratonin - a latter a "feel good" chemical that causes anxiety in over-dose. The 'bite' produces mainly localised burning, pain, swelling and hardening, but it can also induce headache, anxiety and vomiting. Treat local pain with alternate 10minutes periods of an ice pack and nothing; wash well with soap and water to reduce secondary infection; analgesic creams are useful.

Vouchers:
None Recorded.

References:
None recorded.

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM02, zupM04b, zD02

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