ABOUT
About Giant Centipede
Body length 45-60mm. Distributed from Honshu (Kanto region and southward) to the Nansei Islands; two species of house centipedes are known from Japan: the Geji and this species. The back is blackish, and the areas around the spiracles are orange. It has 15 pairs (30) of walking legs, all long and slender. House centipedes are nocturnal and prefer humid environments; they wait in ambush, chase prey down quickly, and catch insects and other small arthropods by wrapping them in their long legs. They sometimes gather in caves to overwinter. Although it is a centipede, it does not actively bite people and runs away quickly when approached. On Amami it can be seen from around March to December, and is easiest to observe from around June to September.
SAFETY
Observation Safety Notes
Please enjoy Amami's wildlife through photographs. Some species are protected by law or local ordinance, and capturing or removing them is prohibited. In special protection zones within the national park, collecting any wildlife is prohibited entirely. Please check the notes on this page, and confirm local rules before visiting any site.
