Scolopendra cingulata, also known as the Megarian banded centipede, and the Mediterranean banded centipede is a species of centipede

Centipede

Centipedes are arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda of the subphylum Myriapoda. They are elongated metameric animals with one pair of legs per body segment. Despite the name, centipedes can have a varying number of legs from under 20 to over 300. Centipedes have an odd number of pairs of...

, and "the most common scolopendromorph species in the Mediterranean area".

Description

The species has alternating bands of black and yellow-gold. At approximately 10-15 cm, Scolopendra cingulata is one of the smallest species in the family Scolopendridae

Scolopendridae

Scolopendridae is a family of large centipedes .-Selected genera:* Alipes Imhoff, 1854 * Alluropus Silvestri, 1911* Arthrorhabdus Pocock, 1891...

. Its venom is also not as toxic as that of other scolopendrid centipedes.

Distribution

Widely distributed, this species can be found throughout southern Europe and around the Mediterranean Sea, in such countries as Spain, France, Italy, Greece, North Africa.

Habitat

Scolopendra cingulata is a burrowing animal, preferring dark, damp environments such as beneath logs and in leaf litter.

Diet

Scolopendra cingulata is an opportunistic carnivore. It will attack and consume almost any animal that is not larger that itself. These include insects and small lizards.

External links

• Naturdata's file of Scolopendra cingulata in Portugal
• Interactive images