Giant centipede in FL?

[Greenjewls]

I heard a rumor that there is a huge species of centipede in FL... larger than s. heros. I kind of highly doubt this, except for the possibility of someone's pet escaping and starting a thriving local population. Has anyone heard anything?

 

[darkness975]

I heard a rumor that there is a huge species of centipede in FL... larger than s. heros. I kind of highly doubt this, except for the possibility of someone's pet escaping and starting a thriving local population. Has anyone heard anything?

Probably lives in the same place as the Goatman and Bigfoot

On a serious note though I have not heard of any huge species of centipedes being confirmed in North America definitively.

 

[dragonfire1577]

Probably Scolopendra alternans since they are found in some parts of florida and get pretty big though they typically max around 5-6 inches average I have still a few seen pics of confirmed 8 inch specimens from both the florida keys and haitian populations so on rare occasion they can get pretty big, though I wouldn't say bigger than S. heros.

 

[Staehilomyces]

Also, S. h. castaneiceps changes from black to brown when they get really big. So perhaps the centipede in question was a large Heros castaneiceps that wasn't recognised as a heros due to the unfamiliar coloration. Then, of course, it only takes a little fear or desire for attention to increase the size a little more.

 

[micheldied]

Probably lives in the same place as the Goatman and Bigfoot

On a serious note though I have not heard of any huge species of centipedes being confirmed in North America definitively.

You're joking. Scolopendra heros can get very large (arizonensis, especially).

 

[Greenjewls]

I have measured S. heros at 8" BL but I think i have seen them up to 10" BL. That's pretty large! Still nothing like some of the tropical species.