Amphibious centipede brings new species award

Amphibious centipede brings new species award

Researcher Warut Siriwut shows the swimming centipede at the faculty of sciences, Chulalongkorn University, on Wednesday. (Photo and video by Somchai Poomlard)
Researcher Warut Siriwut shows the swimming centipede at the faculty of sciences, Chulalongkorn University, on Wednesday. (Photo and video by Somchai Poomlard)

Chulalongkorn University has received a 2017 Top Ten New Species Award from the International Institute for Species Exploration for its discovery of a giant swimming centipede.

Prof Somsak Panha, director of the university's Centre of Excellence on Biodiversity, told a news conference in Bangkok on Wednesday that his team discovered Scolopendra cataracta Siriwut, Edgecombe and Panha 2016 at a waterfall in the Khao Sok National Park in the southern province of Surat Thani in 2015.

Confirmation it was a new species came the following year.

Scolopendra is the Latin scientific name for the group of large centipedes it belongs to, and cataracta means waterfall. It is the world’s first known amphibious centipede and grows up to 20 centimetres long.

Unlike other centipedes, which live on dry land, it can can swim and eats small aquatic animals, Prof Somsak said.

"The award is evidence of the country's fertile biodiversity," he said.

Researcher Warut Siriwut said the swimming centipede is more colourful than other centipedes. Its legs are pale yellow. Researchers have found five of the centipedes: one in Thailand and two each in Laos and Vietnam. The biggest one is 20 centimetres long.

He said DNA comparisons show Scolopendra cataracta is totally different from other centipedes. This also means it has a different venom, and researchers will find out if it holds beneficial and useful properties.

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