Scolopendra dehaani

Vietnamese Giant Centipede

Long antennae lead the way as many pairs of legs move together.

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

Care commitment Expert care

Habitat Ground & cover

Visiting Observe only

Meet your new acquaintance

Nickname Many-legged Night Hunter

Mainly nocturnal; terrestrial and burrowing

Species highlights

Legs transformed into feeding tools

Forcipules derive from the first trunk appendages behind the head and deliver venom during predation; they are not a mammalian-style row of teeth.

Antennae, walking legs and specialised front appendages divide tasks across a segmented body. These are group-level centipede traits rather than a property of one trade name.

Following the head backward reveals repetition with specialisation: many similar units can participate in sensing, locomotion and predation differently.

Feature sources:

Australian Museum · Centipede anatomy (group-level structure)

At a glance

The Vietnamese red dragon centipede (Scolopendra dehaani) belongs to a large centipede species found across parts of Southeast Asia. Antennae lead a segmented body supported by successive leg movements. Head, dorsal-plate and leg colours are striking but can vary within the species.

A flattened body enters substrate spaces while antennae lead and successive legs move it forward. Forcipules connect modified appendages with predation, rather than being ordinary teeth.

Growth requires moulting the exoskeleton, so sheltered feeding pauses need context. Centipedes are chilopods, not many-legged insects; segmentation, senses and growth extend the trade-label portrait.

Common names Vietnamese Giant Centipede; Scolopendra dehaani

Scientific name Scolopendra dehaani

Native rangeParts of Southeast Asia

Adult sizeOften about 15–25 cm adult body length

ActivityMainly nocturnal; terrestrial and burrowing

Diet Offer appropriately sized animal prey such as insects, house individually and record intake. Remove prey around moults; never use bare hands or finger-held food to trigger feeding.

Habitat & care

Use robust escape prevention, secure ventilation, deep substrate and a moisture gradient. Maintenance belongs to experienced staff.

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 Do not apply a reptile UVB setup by default; retain sheltered retreats.

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

Find the two slender antennae, then trace the body to the ultimate legs and distinguish its two ends. During travel, follow just three or four midbody leg pairs, then widen the view to see those small steps join into a movement wave.

Care note: Prevent escape and direct contact; experienced staff should perform maintenance.

About this profile

Vietnamese red dragon is one trade name for Scolopendra dehaani; it does not establish an individual’s collection locality.

Profile status: Reference profile · Reviewed 2026-10-20

References (5)

Photo: Gaison64 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons，resized for display · Original image, credit and licence

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.