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SPECIES FILE
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Scolopendra dehaani

Indonesian Giant Centipede

Different trade names may describe the same species; locality requires records.

Reference photo, not the individual on display. Credits appear below.

Care commitment Identify first
Habitat Check individual records
Visiting Observe only

Meet your new acquaintance

Nickname Indonesian Giant Centipede
Ground-dwelling · burrowing · view through glass

Species highlights

The last legs are different

Ultimate legs differ in length and posture from ordinary walking legs; they are not a second set of antennae.

Studies across centipedes discuss sensory, defensive and communicative roles for ultimate legs, with no single function covering every species. Comparing posture and ground contact with ordinary walking legs is a useful starting point; some functions in S. dehaani still require further study.

Compare their contact during ordinary movement and turning. A vaguely named “tail” becomes an accurately described appendage, opening a real question rather than a forced certainty.

Feature sources:

At a glance

The Indonesian red dragon centipede (Scolopendra dehaani) has a large, flattened body suited to ground-level substrate and sheltered gaps. Antennae, forcipules, walking legs and ultimate legs divide tasks along the same segmented body; striking reddish colour is only a starting point.

Antennae lead through shelter, walking legs transfer contact and gaps change its route. Forcipules and ultimate legs show that repeated segments do not perform identical tasks.

It feeds on suitable small animals and grows through moulting. Colour varies within the species, while anatomy and movement provide another way to observe it: antennae lead, the trunk follows, and ultimate-leg posture changes during pauses or turns.

Common names Indonesian Giant Centipede
Scientific name Scolopendra dehaani
Native rangeS. dehaani occurs across parts of Southeast Asia; this individual’s Indonesian locality label needs provenance
Adult sizeLarge centipede, commonly about 15–25 cm body length, excluding antennae and ultimate legs
ActivityGround-dwelling, using deep substrate and cover; active in darker periods
Diet Offer appropriately sized prey such as insects according to intake and condition. House singly, secure the enclosure and remove prey around moults; do not combine centipedes to compare colours.

Habitat & care

Guidance follows the existing S. dehaani record: individual housing, deep substrate, moisture choices and layered escape prevention. The Indonesian locality label needs records and does not identify a separate species.

Values guide routine care, not breeding or brumation. Dimensions are length × width × height for one adult unless stated otherwise; larger animals need more space.

TemperatureDaytime air 20–28°C The cited keeper commonly uses about 25°C, without a hot basking spot. Thermostat-control any heating and avoid strong underfloor heat.
Humidity70–85% Retain substrate moisture without waterlogging; air RH is only a reference. Provide a drier area, water and secure ventilation.
LightingDay–night cycle and shelter Do not apply a lizard UVI or hot basking prescription. Retain dark retreats and avoid strong direct light or sun-induced overheating.
Space45×30×40 cm Recommended one-adult starting recommendation; use at least 10–15cm substrate, lock the lid and maintain escape-prevention clearance.

Look a little closer

Follow the body from head to tail and distinguish ordinary walking legs from the longer ultimate legs. During movement or turning, compare their ground contacts. At a pause, compare antenna and ultimate-leg posture at the two ends of the body.

Care note: Until species and origin are confirmed, use a care plan based on verified individual records.

About this profile

Different trade names may describe the same species; locality requires records.

Profile status: Pending verification · Reviewed

References (3)

Photo: Reference image; it does not establish the species identity of an individual. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Centipede_ultimate_legs_collage.jpg CC BY-SA 4.0

Behaviour notes describe the species, not a promise about every individual. These care notes introduce its needs; ask our team about the animal on display and any supervised encounters.