Serpent Island centipede facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Serpent Island centipede |
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| A female Scolopendra abnormis with her eggs on Round Island, Mauritius. | |
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| A large Scolopendra abnormis centipede (about 90 mm long) found under a rock on Round Island, Mauritius in 2023. | |
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Scolopendra
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| Species: |
abnormis
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The Serpent Island centipede, also known as Scolopendra abnormis, is a special type of centipede. It belongs to the Scolopendridae family. This centipede is found only in one place in the world: Mauritius. It lives on two small islands near Mauritius called Round Island and Serpent Island. On Serpent Island, you can find many of them. There can be up to 12 adult centipedes in just one square meter of good habitat!
How They Evolved
The ancestors of the Serpent Island centipede probably came to Mauritius millions of years ago. But over time, new animals brought by humans caused many of them to disappear from the main island. Only a few groups survived on the smaller islands. These centipedes cannot swim. They likely reached Round Island and Serpent Island by floating on natural rafts. Or, they might have walked there during ice ages when the islands were connected to Mauritius by land bridges.
What They Look Like
Scolopendra abnormis centipedes can grow to be at least 95 millimeters (about 3.7 inches) long. The ones living on Serpent Island are usually a bit bigger than those on Round Island. Their bodies are mostly yellowish. Interestingly, they do not try to run away when they are uncovered or disturbed.
Their Life and Habits
You can often find Scolopendra abnormis centipedes hiding under rocks. On Round Island, they like to be between layers of volcanic rock. On Serpent Island, they dig tunnels in soft, damp soil between rocks. These centipedes are active at night, which means they are nocturnal. They are also carnivores, meaning they eat other animals. Their main food is insects.
Scientists studied what these centipedes eat. They found that about a quarter of them also eat Bojer's skink. This skink is a type of lizard that also lives only in Mauritius, especially on Round Island. The Bojer's skink is a critically endangered animal.
If a Scolopendra abnormis centipede bites a human, it can be quite painful. However, these centipedes are also food for other animals. Serpent Island geckos and Round Island skinks sometimes hunt and eat them.
