Scolopendra gigantea question

[James Scanio]

Hello, I recently purchased a Peruvian yellow leg centipede from Underground Reptiles and they have it listed as "Scolopendra Robusta" but they also sell the Amazonian Giant Centipede listed as "Scolopendra Gigantea" and i was confused because everything ive read says they are the same and pictures of them are listed under both names. Can anyone tell me which is the true Scolopendra Gigantea (which will get larger)? Even Underground Reptiles has different pictures for them both. Any info would be great! i dont have pictures of mine yet because it hasn't arrived yet.

 

[Teds ts and Inverts]

Hello, I recently purchased a Peruvian yellow leg centipede from Underground Reptiles and they have it listed as "Scolopendra Robusta" but they also sell the Amazonian Giant Centipede listed as "Scolopendra Gigantea" and i was confused because everything ive read says they are the same and pictures of them are listed under both names. Can anyone tell me which is the true Scolopendra Gigantea (which will get larger)? Even Underground Reptiles has different pictures for them both. Any info would be great! i dont have pictures of mine yet because it hasn't arrived yet.

Both species are most likely not even gigantea at all. What’s listed as “robusta” is just an orange color form of what’s being sold as “galapagoensis”. The true S. gigantea comes from Trinidad, and they haven’t made their way into the hobby yet.

 

[NYAN]

Hello, I recently purchased a Peruvian yellow leg centipede from Underground Reptiles and they have it listed as "Scolopendra Robusta" but they also sell the Amazonian Giant Centipede listed as "Scolopendra Gigantea" and i was confused because everything ive read says they are the same and pictures of them are listed under both names. Can anyone tell me which is the true Scolopendra Gigantea (which will get larger)? Even Underground Reptiles has different pictures for them both. Any info would be great! i dont have pictures of mine yet because it hasn't arrived yet.

South American giant taxonomy is messed up. All of these dealers frankly complicate the issue labeling these Peruvian species as being their own species.

The species you bought isn’t Scolopendra robusta, it’s the orange form of what is labeled as ‘Scolopendra galapagoensis,’ which also isn’t the real galapagoensis. It’s best to label these not as being a species but as having hobby names. An example is Scolopendra sp. ‘white legs/gigantea.’

These hobby species all come from Peru. The real robusta comes from Mexico I believe, the real gigantea from the amazon basin and the real galapagoensis from the Galapagos island are and Ecuador. None of these species are really in the hobby.

Your centipede will still get big. They all can get around 12 inches Potentially. I hope this helps.

 

[James Scanio]

South American giant taxonomy is messed up. All of these dealers frankly complicate the issue labeling these Peruvian species as being their own species.

The species you bought isn’t Scolopendra robusta, it’s the orange form of what is labeled as ‘Scolopendra galapagoensis,’ which also isn’t the real galapagoensis. It’s best to label these not as being a species but as having hobby names. An example is Scolopendra sp. ‘white legs/gigantea.’

These hobby species all come from Peru. The real robusta comes from Mexico I believe, the real gigantea from the amazon basin and the real galapagoensis from the Galapagos island are and Ecuador. None of these species are really in the hobby.

Your centipede will still get big. They all can get around 12 inches Potentially. I hope this helps.

Thanks, that helps clear it up. I was concerned I bought the wrong species for a ridiculous price!

 

[NYAN]

Thanks, that helps clear it up. I was concerned I bought the wrong species for a ridiculous price!

What do you mean by ‘wrong species?’ How much did you pay?

 

[James Scanio]

What do you mean by ‘wrong species?’ How much did you pay?

Both their “Amazon Giant” and “Peruvian” are $399

 

[NYAN]

Both their “Amazon Giant” and “Peruvian” are $399

That’s on the pricy side honestly.

 

[James Scanio]

That’s on the pricy side honestly.

Yeah, I know it's pretty expensive, but its a beautiful species (whatever is actual species is) and ive been dealing with Vietnamese for a while and wanted something new. Thanks for clearing things up for me though, I appreciate it. And while we're on the subject, it seems like a bite from these guys only results in pain and swelling? Don't worry, ive done my research but as you just showed me today there is a lot to be learned about the multitude of falsely identified species from South America, and I by no means plan to handle this species (or any centipede for that matter) but if I DID receive a bite, what can I expect?

 

[Teds ts and Inverts]

Yeah, I know it's pretty expensive, but its a beautiful species (whatever is actual species is) and ive been dealing with Vietnamese for a while and wanted something new. Thanks for clearing things up for me though, I appreciate it. And while we're on the subject, it seems like a bite from these guys only results in pain and swelling? Don't worry, ive done my research but as you just showed me today there is a lot to be learned about the multitude of falsely identified species from South America, and I by no means plan to handle this species (or any centipede for that matter) but if I DID receive a bite, what can I expect?

When compared to other Scolopendra species, the SA Giants have relatively weak venom. I’m pretty sure the mechanical damage and trauma from the initial bite causes more pain than the effects of the venom.

 

[NYAN]

This is what happened to me when one bit me:

5:52PM: stinging, throbbing pain sets in

6:20PM: pain diminishes

7:30PM: all pain is gone. No swelling is present and only slight sensitivity to the bite site remains

The pain was around a 2/10

 

[James Scanio]

This is what happened to me when one bit me:

5:52PM: stinging, throbbing pain sets in

6:20PM: pain diminishes

7:30PM: all pain is gone. No swelling is present and only slight sensitivity to the bite site remains

The pain was around a 2/10

Oh, so like a bee sting. Yeah still not gunna hold it cause those forcipules would hurt!