Animal Species:Blind Scolopendrid Centipede

This centipede is orange-brown in colour and is usually found in and beneath rotting logs.

Blind Centipede

Blind Centipede
Gonzalo Giribet © Australian Museum

Identification

This centipede is orange-brown in colour and is usually found in and beneath rotting logs. Like other scolopendrid centipedes, the Blind Scolopendrid Centipede has 21 pairs of legs. The last pair is equipped with small blade-like spines for catching prey. With no eyes, it finds its way using sensory hairs on its antennae.

Size range

3 cm

Distribution

Blind Scolopendrid Centipedes are found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia. Also in New Zealand and Loyalty Islands (New Caledonia).

Habitat

Blind Scolopendrid Centipedes live in forests (wet sclerophyll and rainforest).

Classification

Species:
australis
Genus:
Cryptops
Family:
Cryptopidae
Superfamily:
Scolopendroidea
Order:
Scolopendromorpha
Subclass:
Pleurostigmophora
Class:
Chilopoda
Phylum:
Arthopoda
Kingdom:
Animalia

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Tags centipedes, myriapods, invertebrates, arthropods, wildlife of sydney, identification,