Venomous
Guides
Ablautus arnaudi
Ablautus arnaudi is a small species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, first described by Wilcox in 1966. Adults measure approximately 6–7 millimeters in length. The species exhibits sand-colored cryptic coloration and displays distinctive sexual dimorphism in facial hair coloration. Males possess bright white facial hairs and engage in elaborate courtship displays involving leg-waving and rocking movements. Like all Asilidae, this species is predatory in both adult and larval stages.
Asilidaerobber-flypredatorysexual-dimorphismcourtshipearly-springsand-coloredcrypticleafhopper-predatormystaxfacial-hair-dimorphismextra-oral-digestionvenomoussit-and-wait-predatorplains-habitatsmall-size6-7-mmwhite-facial-hairs-malegold-facial-hairs-femaleleg-waving-displayrocking-displayWilcox-1966Ablautus-revisionCharlotte-Herbert-AlbertsColoradoeastern-plainsAnisomorpha
two-striped walkingsticks, twostriped walkingsticks
Anisomorpha is a genus of large wingless walking stick insects (Phasmida) known for their potent chemical defense. Adults possess paired metathoracic glands that discharge an irritating secretion capable of causing intense burning pain and temporary blindness in predators, including humans. Females are substantially larger than males, with some individuals reaching nearly four inches in length. The genus contains four accepted species distributed across the southeastern United States, Central America, and northern South America.
Apomastus schlingeri
Apomastus schlingeri is a venomous trapdoor spider species described by Bond & Opell in 2002. It was originally misidentified as Aptostichus schlingeri before taxonomic revision placed it in the genus Apomastus. The species is known for producing a complex of neurotoxic peptides called aptotoxins, which function as voltage-gated sodium channel blockers. It is one of only two known species in the genus Apomastus, both restricted to the United States.
Asiloidea
asiloid flies
Asiloidea is a large superfamily of true flies (Diptera: Brachycera) with cosmopolitan distribution. It comprises approximately 11 families including the well-known Asilidae (robber/assassin flies), Bombyliidae (bee flies), Therevidae (stiletto flies), Mydidae (mydas flies), and Scenopinidae (window flies). Adult morphology is characterized by antennae with no more than 4 flagellomeres, leg empodium usually setiform or absent, and wing venation featuring an elongate cell cup with vein CuA2 ending freely or meeting A1 near the wing margin. Larval synapomorphies include posterior spiracles arising dorsally from the penultimate abdominal segment and, in most families except Bombyliidae and Hilarimorphidae, a modified cranium forming a hinged metacephalic rod.
DipteraBrachyceraAsiloidearobber-fliesbee-fliesstiletto-fliesmydas-flieswindow-fliescosmopolitanarid-habitatspredatory-larvaeflower-visitorsparasitoidsbiological-controlAsilidaeBombyliidaeTherevidaeMydidaeScenopinidaeApioceridaeApsilocephalidaeApystomyiidaeEvocoidaeHilarimorphidaeMythicomyiidaeProtapioceridaephylogenysystematicsvenomouspredatorymystaxmetacephalic-roddichopticholopticJurassicCretaceoustherevoid-cladeNamib-DesertCanary-IslandsSaudi-ArabiaDominicaChileGermanyfossilcybertaxonomyopen-accessZooKeysBohart-MuseumWorld-Robber-Fly-DayBelostomatidae
giant water bugs, toe-biters, Indian toe-biters, electric-light bugs, alligator ticks, alligator fleas
Belostomatidae is a family of large freshwater hemipteran insects comprising approximately 170 species worldwide. Members are the largest insects in the order Hemiptera, with some species exceeding 12 cm in length. They are aggressive predators found in ponds, marshes, and slow-flowing streams, feeding on aquatic invertebrates, fish, amphibians, and even small vertebrates. The family exhibits remarkable paternal care, with males of many species carrying eggs on their backs until hatching. Several species are consumed as food in Southeast Asia.
Buthidae
fat-tailed scorpions, bark scorpions, arrowbreasted scorpions
Buthidae is the largest family of scorpions, containing approximately 100 genera and 1300 species as of 2025. Members are typically mid-sized to small, with weak, slender pedipalps and characteristically thickened tails. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution throughout tropical and subtropical environments worldwide. Buthidae includes nearly all medically significant scorpion species, with venoms containing potent neurotoxins that affect ion channels.
Centruroides
bark scorpion, bark scorpions
Centruroides is a highly speciose genus of buthid scorpions comprising at least 100 species distributed throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, the Antilles, and northern South America. Commonly known as bark scorpions, members of this genus are notable for their strong fluorescence under ultraviolet light—except immediately after moulting—and several species possess venom potent enough to cause human fatalities. The genus includes species adapted to diverse habitats ranging from tropical rainforests to arid regions, with some showing marked intra-domiciliary tendencies in urban environments.
Centruroides gracilis
Slender Brown Scorpion, Florida Bark Scorpion, Brown Bark Scorpion, Red Bark Scorpion, Slender Red Scorpion, Alacran Prieto, Alacran Azul
Centruroides gracilis is a medium to large scorpion in the family Buthidae, notable for its wide color variation and extensive introduced range. Females reach up to 10 cm, while males can exceed 15 cm. The species exhibits remarkable phenotypic plasticity, with individuals in single populations or even litters showing colors ranging from reddish to dark brown with contrasting leg and chelae coloration. It is native to northern Central America but has been introduced to numerous regions including Florida, the Caribbean, South America, Africa, and the Canary Islands, often occurring in synanthropic habitats.
Centruroides sculpturatus
Arizona Bark Scorpion
Centruroides sculpturatus, commonly known as the Arizona bark scorpion, is a small, light brown scorpion native to the Sonoran Desert. It is the only scorpion species in North America considered dangerously venomous to humans, with stings capable of causing severe pain, numbness, and in rare cases life-threatening symptoms in young children. The species exhibits fluorescent properties under ultraviolet light due to compounds in its exoskeleton. It is frequently used in educational outreach programs due to its docile handling behavior in captivity.
Centruroides vittatus
Striped Bark Scorpion
Centruroides vittatus is the most common scorpion in the United States, occurring throughout the midsection of the country and northern Mexico. This species exhibits notable behavioral flexibility, including plant climbing and temperature-modulated antipredator responses. Populations show geographic variation in venom toxicity, with eastern populations exhibiting reduced toxicity linked to lower sodium β toxin gene expression. The species has been documented harboring the endosymbiont Mycoplasma vittatus, the first Mycoplasma species identified from an arachnid.
Chihuahuanus coahuilae
Lesser Stripetail Scorpion
Chihuahuanus coahuilae, the Lesser Stripetail Scorpion, is a small scorpion species measuring 35–55 mm. It occurs in the Chihuahuan Desert region of Mexico and the southwestern United States. The species was originally described as Vaejovis coahuilae in 1968 and later transferred to the genus Chihuahuanus. It is a member of the family Vaejovidae, one of the most diverse scorpion families in North America.
Chihuahuanus crassimanus
Thick-handed Scorpion
Chihuahuanus crassimanus is a scorpion species in the family Vaejovidae, originally described as Vaejovis crassimanus by Pocock in 1898. It is commonly known as the Thick-handed Scorpion. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico, inhabiting arid and semi-arid regions. Like other vaejovid scorpions, it is a terrestrial predator adapted to desert environments.
Chilopoda
Centipedes
Chilopoda is a class of venomous, predatory arthropods comprising the centipedes. These elongated metameric animals possess one pair of legs per body segment, with leg counts ranging from 30 to 354 depending on species. Centipedes are distinguished from millipedes (class Diplopoda) by their single pair of legs per segment, flattened body profile, and venomous forcipules derived from modified first leg pairs. The class contains four extant orders: Scutigeromorpha (house centipedes), Lithobiomorpha (stone centipedes), Geophilomorpha (soil centipedes), and Scolopendromorpha (giant centipedes). All are obligate carnivores with predatory lifestyles.
Crematogaster
Acrobat Ants, Cocktail Ants, Saint Valentine Ants
Crematogaster is a large, ecologically diverse genus of ants with over 520 described species distributed worldwide. The genus is characterized by a distinctive heart-shaped gaster that can be raised forward over the thorax and head when alarmed, a behavior that has earned them the common names "cocktail ants" and "acrobat ants." Most species are arboreal, though some are ground-nesting. They exhibit complex social behaviors including cooperative hunting, trail-based recruitment, and defensive venom spraying.
Diguetia canities
desert bush spider
Diguetia canities, commonly known as the desert bush spider, is a species of coneweb spider in the family Diguetidae. It is the most widely distributed species in its genus, occurring across desert and semidesert habitats from California to Oklahoma and Texas. The spider constructs a distinctive dome-shaped sheet web with a tubular retreat, often placed in bushes or cacti less than 60 cm above ground. It produces a potent insect-selective venom peptide called Dc1a.
Diplocentrus diablo
Diplocentrus diablo is a species of scorpion in the family Diplocentridae, first described by Stockwell and Nilsson in 1987. The species belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive morphological features including a subaculear tubercle on the telson. As a member of the order Scorpiones, it possesses the typical arachnid body plan with four pairs of walking legs and a segmented metasoma terminating in a stinger.
Graemeloweus glimmei
A small scorpion species in the family Vaejovidae, originally described as Vaejovis glimmei in 1972 and later transferred to the genus Graemeloweus. The genus Graemeloweus was established in 2016 to accommodate several vaejovid species previously placed in Vaejovis. This species is known from a limited number of observations and specimens, primarily from western North America.
Hadrurus
Giant Hairy Desert Scorpion, Desert Hairy Scorpion
Hadrurus is a genus of large scorpions in the family Hadruridae, native to sandy deserts and xeric habitats of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Members of this genus rank among the largest scorpions in the world, exceeded in size only by Hadogenes, Pandinus, Heterometrus, and Hoffmannihadrurus. The genus currently contains seven recognized species, including the well-known Hadrurus arizonensis, commonly called the Giant Hairy Desert Scorpion. These scorpions are characterized by their robust, hairy bodies with yellowish coloration, though Hadrurus spadix notably exhibits a dark, nearly black prosoma and mesosoma.
Hadrurus anzaborrego
Anza-Borrego Hairy Scorpion
Hadrurus anzaborrego is a large scorpion endemic to the western Colorado Desert of southern California and extreme northern Baja California. It is a medium-sized member of the genus Hadrurus, reaching up to 11 cm in length. The species exhibits two distinct color phenotypes: light individuals are pale yellow, while dark individuals have a melanic posterior carapace and mesosoma. Both forms display a characteristic dark, v-shaped pattern near the eyes. The species name derives from Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, where the holotype was collected.
Hadrurus arizonensis
giant desert hairy scorpion, giant hairy scorpion, Arizona Desert hairy scorpion
Hadrurus arizonensis is the largest scorpion in North America, reaching up to 14 cm in length. This arachnid inhabits the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, where it constructs elaborate burrows up to 2.5 meters deep. It is a nocturnal predator that employs a 'sit and wait' hunting strategy, using sensory hairs to detect ground vibrations. Despite its imposing size, its venom is relatively mild with an LD50 of 168-198 mg/kg, comparable in pain to a honeybee sting. The species is viviparous, with young remaining on the mother's back for over a week after birth.
Hadrurus spadix
Black Hairy Scorpion, Black-back Scorpion
Hadrurus spadix is a large scorpion reaching approximately 15 cm in length, native to the southern deserts of North America. It is distinguished from the closely related giant desert hairy scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis) by its entirely black prosoma (cephalothorax). This species is a dedicated burrower, spending considerable time excavating and enlarging subterranean galleries in sandy substrates. Its venom is considered low in toxicity to humans, though the sting remains painful.
Isochaetes beutenmuelleri
Spun Glass Slug Moth
Isochaetes beutenmuelleri, commonly known as the spun glass slug moth, is a small moth in the family Limacodidae. It is named for its distinctive pupal stage, which appears nearly transparent and is covered in spiny, venomous hairs. The species is native to the eastern and central United States, where its larvae feed on oak and beech trees.
Latrodectus
widow spiders, black widow spiders, brown widow spiders
Latrodectus is a genus of cobweb spiders (Theridiidae) containing approximately 34-35 species distributed worldwide except Antarctica. Females are typically dark-colored with distinctive reddish ventral abdominal markings, often hourglass-shaped, while males and juveniles frequently display dorsal red or red-and-white patterns. The genus is medically significant due to potent venom containing the neurotoxin latrotoxin, which causes the condition latrodectism. Despite their reputation, bites rarely cause death in humans. The common name "widow spiders" derives from observations of sexual cannibalism, though this behavior is more common in laboratory settings than in nature.
Latrodectus bishopi
Red Widow
Latrodectus bishopi, the red widow spider, is a venomous cobweb spider endemic to the sand-pine scrub habitat of central and southern Florida. First described as a variety of L. mactans in 1938 and elevated to species status in 1964, it is distinguished from other widow spiders by its distinctive coloration and lack of a complete hourglass marking. The species is listed as threatened in the United States due to its restricted range and habitat specificity.
Latrodectus variolus
Northern Black Widow, Northern Widow
Latrodectus variolus is a venomous spider in the family Theridiidae, native to northeastern North America. It is closely related to the southern black widow (L. mactans) and western black widow (L. hesperus). The species is medically significant due to its neurotoxic venom, though bites are rarely fatal to healthy adults. It has been observed expanding its range northward beyond previously documented boundaries.
Loxosceles
Recluse Spiders, Brown Spiders, Fiddle-backs, Violin Spiders, Reapers
Loxosceles is a genus of venomous spiders in the family Sicariidae, comprising approximately 149 species of cryptic, reclusive, nocturnal arachnids. These spiders are characterized by their six eyes arranged in three pairs, a distinctive violin-shaped marking on the cephalothorax in many species, and cytotoxic venom that can cause necrotic lesions in some bite victims. The genus has a primarily neotropical distribution, with significant diversity in Brazil and the southwestern United States, though some species have been introduced to other regions through human activity.
Loxosceles apachea
Apache Recluse
Loxosceles apachea, the Apache recluse, is a species of recluse spider in the family Sicariidae. It is found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other recluse spiders, it possesses cytotoxic venom that can cause necrotic lesions in rare cases, though bites are uncommon and typically occur only when the spider is trapped against skin. The species is poorly studied compared to the more widespread brown recluse (L. reclusa).
Loxosceles arizonica
Arizona brown spider, Arizona Recluse
Loxosceles arizonica, commonly known as the Arizona brown spider or Arizona Recluse, is a recluse spider species in the family Sicariidae. Field studies indicate that ants constitute its primary prey, particularly species in the genera Novomessor and Camponotus. Like other Loxosceles species, it possesses cytotoxic venom capable of causing necrotic lesions, though documented cases of envenomation in humans appear limited compared to more widespread relatives such as L. reclusa.
Loxosceles blanda
Big Bend Recluse
Loxosceles blanda, commonly known as the Big Bend recluse, is a species of recluse spider in the family Sicariidae. It was described in 1983 by Gertsch and Ennik. The species is native to the United States, with its common name suggesting association with the Big Bend region of Texas. Like other members of the genus Loxosceles, it possesses cytotoxic venom that can cause tissue necrosis in humans, though documented cases specific to this species are limited.
Loxosceles deserta
Desert Recluse
Loxosceles deserta, commonly known as the desert recluse, is a venomous brown spider in the family Sicariidae. It is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The species is frequently misidentified as the brown recluse (L. reclusa) or L. unicolor, despite occupying a geographically distinct range. Its venom contains cytotoxic compounds that can cause necrotic skin lesions in humans, though bites are rare and typically defensive.
Loxosceles devia
Texas Recluse
Loxosceles devia, commonly known as the Texas recluse, is a species of recluse spider in the family Sicariidae. It is native to the southern United States and Mexico. Like other members of the genus Loxosceles, it possesses venom that can cause necrotic skin lesions in humans, though bites are rare and typically occur only when the spider is trapped against skin. The species is closely related to other recluse spiders and shares their characteristic shy, reclusive behavior.
Loxosceles palma
Loxosceles palma is a venomous recluse spider in the family Sicariidae, native to Baja California, Mexico. The species name derives from the Latin word for palm, referencing the palm canyons of California and Baja California where it occurs. It inhabits deep canyon environments and has been documented in the San Jacinto Mountains of California.
Loxosceles rufescens
Mediterranean recluse spider, violin spider, brown spider
Loxosceles rufescens is a globally invasive recluse spider native to the Mediterranean region. It has established populations across six continents through human-mediated dispersal, often in synanthropic environments. The species is medically significant due to cytotoxic venom containing phospholipases D that can cause loxoscelism—characterized by dermonecrosis, hemolysis, and potential systemic complications. Despite its fearsome reputation, bites are defensive and relatively uncommon even where populations are established.
Megalopyge
flannel moths, puss moths
Megalopyge is a genus of moths in the family Megalopygidae, commonly known as flannel moths or puss moths. The genus contains approximately 50 described species distributed primarily in the Americas. Larvae are densely covered in hair-like setae that conceal venomous spines, making them medically significant due to severe stinging reactions in humans. Adults are relatively small, stout-bodied moths with reduced mouthparts.
Megalopyge lacyi
Megalopyge lacyi is a flannel moth species described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1910. Like other members of the genus Megalopyge, its larvae possess venomous urticating hairs concealed beneath a dense coat of soft, hair-like setae. The species is part of a family known for caterpillars that can deliver painful stings upon contact.
Megalopyge opercularis
southern flannel moth, puss caterpillar, asp, Italian asp, fire caterpillar, woolly slug, opossum bug, puss moth, tree asp, asp caterpillar
Megalopyge opercularis is a moth in the family Megalopygidae, notable for its highly venomous larval stage and strikingly different adult form. The caterpillar, known as the puss caterpillar, is densely covered in hair-like setae that conceal venomous spines capable of delivering extremely painful stings. The adult, called the southern flannel moth, is covered in soft fur ranging from dull orange to lemon yellow. The species has two broods annually in much of its range, with late-season larvae sometimes overwintering in cocoons.
Megalopyge opercularis bissesa
Southern Flannel Moth, Puss Caterpillar
Megalopyge opercularis bissesa is a subspecies of southern flannel moth, commonly known as the puss caterpillar in its larval stage. The caterpillar is covered in dense, soft-looking hair that conceals venomous urticating spines capable of delivering painful stings. Found in the southeastern United States from the Mid-Atlantic to Florida and Texas, this insect feeds on various woody plants including oak, hickory, and apple. The caterpillar's distinctive appearance—resembling a tiny, hairy cat or 'Cousin Itt' from The Addams Family—belies its defensive capabilities.
Megalopygidae
New World Flannel Moths, Flannel Moths, Crinkled Flannel Moths
Megalopygidae is a family of moths occurring in North America and the New World tropics, with larvae commonly known as puss caterpillars or asps. The caterpillars are covered in long, soft hairs that conceal hollow venomous spines capable of delivering severe stings. The family contains two subfamilies in the United States: Megalopyginae (genus Megalopyge, 7 species) and Trosiinae (genera Norape and Trosia, 5 species). The venom system is unique among Lepidoptera, consisting of aerolysin-like pore-forming toxins called megalysins that were recruited via horizontal gene transfer from bacteria.
Mygalomorphae
Mygalomorphs, Orthognatha
Mygalomorphae is one of three major lineages of living spiders, comprising over 3,000 species across 32 families. Members include tarantulas, trapdoor spiders, and Australian funnel-web spiders. They are characterized by downward-pointing chelicerae, two pairs of book lungs, and often large body sizes with exceptional longevity—some individuals live 25 years or more. The group exhibits remarkable morphological conservatism across its global distribution.
Myriapoda
myriapods
Myriapoda is a subphylum of terrestrial arthropods comprising approximately 13,000–16,000 described species across four extant classes: Chilopoda (centipedes), Diplopoda (millipedes), Pauropoda, and Symphyla. All myriapods are obligate terrestrial, characterized by elongated bodies with numerous segments bearing legs. The group represents one of the earliest arthropod lineages to colonize land, with fossil evidence dating to the Late Silurian–Early Devonian boundary. Myriapods exhibit diverse ecological roles: centipedes are primarily nocturnal predators using venomous forcipules, while millipedes, pauropods, and symphylans function predominantly as detritivores in soil and leaf litter ecosystems.
Ommatius gemma
Ommatius gemma is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, first described by Brimley in 1928. As a member of the genus Ommatius, it belongs to one of the most diverse genera within the Asilidae. Robber flies in this genus are predatory insects known for their venomous hunting strategy and distinctive facial morphology. The species is part of a family containing over 7,500 described species worldwide, with many species remaining poorly studied.
Paravaejovis spinigerus
stripe-tailed scorpion, devil scorpion
Paravaejovis spinigerus, commonly known as the stripe-tailed scorpion or devil scorpion, is a medium-sized scorpion native to the Sonoran Desert region. Adults reach 60–70 mm in length and weigh approximately 9.5 g. The species was transferred from the genus Hoffmannius to Paravaejovis in 2013. Its venom is not medically significant to humans.
Plectreurys tristis
primitive hunting spider
Plectreurys tristis is a large venomous spider in the family Plectreuridae, found in arid and semi-arid regions of western North America, Central America, and Mexico. Adult males reach approximately 12 mm in body length (25 mm with legs extended), with females larger in all proportions. The species produces a venom containing plectoxins, insecticidal peptides that specifically target N-type calcium channels. It constructs webs under rocks and debris, with females and immatures remaining in webs while adult males wander nocturnally.
Pogonomyrmecini
Pogonomyrmecini is a tribe of myrmicine ants established in 2015, containing three extant genera: Pogonomyrmex, Hylomyrma, and Patagonomyrmex. The tribe was erected following phylogenetic revision of the subfamily Myrmicinae. Members include the well-known harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex), which are conspicuous seed-collecting ants in arid regions of the Americas. The tribe represents a relatively recent taxonomic reorganization based on molecular and morphological evidence.
Pogonomyrmex
Typical American Harvester Ants, Harvester Ants
Pogonomyrmex is a genus of harvester ants comprising approximately 69 extant species, distributed primarily across arid and semi-arid regions of North, Central, and South America, with three endemic species from Haiti. These ants are characterized by their specialized seed-collecting behavior, constructing deep underground nests with conspicuous cleared nest disks that can exceed 10 meters in diameter. Workers of the subgenus sensu stricto possess a psammophore—a beard-like structure of long hairs beneath the head used for transporting seeds, sand, and eggs. The genus includes species with the most toxic insect venom documented, notably Pogonomyrmex maricopa, with an LD50 of 0.12 mg/kg in mice.
Pogonomyrmex badius
Florida Harvester Ant
Pogonomyrmex badius, the Florida harvester ant, is the only Pogonomyrmex species found on the east coast of the United States and the only North American member of the genus known to exhibit worker polymorphism. This species inhabits sandy, well-drained soils in Florida scrub and similar Atlantic coastal plain habitats. Colonies construct deep nests reaching 2.5–3.0 meters, with underground seed granaries and distinctive surface middens of charcoal and detritus. Workers display pronounced size variation (6.35–9.52 mm), with task allocation based on worker size and age-based vertical stratification within the nest. The species is notable for seasonal nest relocation, tool use for liquid food transport, and highly toxic venom delivered through a barbed stinger capable of autotomy.
Pygodasis ephippium
Saddleback Scoliid Wasp
A large scoliid wasp reaching approximately 4 cm in length, with striking black and orange coloration. Males possess long antennae, slender bodies, and a conspicuous pseudostinger at the abdomen tip; females are more robust with shorter antennae and a functional retractable stinger. The species has been recorded as a parasitoid of scarab beetle grubs and as a flower visitor. Originally known from south Texas south to Ecuador, with more recent records from Arizona and Panama.
Scolopendra
Giant Centipedes
Scolopendra is a genus of large tropical centipedes in the family Scolopendridae, containing some of the largest living centipedes. The genus was established by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 and remains one of the most species-rich genera in the order Scolopendromorpha. Members are characterized by their substantial size, with the largest species exceeding 30 cm in length, and their potent venom delivered through modified forcipules. The genus exhibits considerable variation in coloration and size across its constituent species.
Scolopendra polymorpha
Common Desert Centipede, Tiger Centipede, Banded Desert Centipede, Sonoran Desert Centipede, Multicolored Centipede
Scolopendra polymorpha is a large centipede species native to arid regions of western North America. Adults typically measure 10–18 cm in body length. The species exhibits highly variable coloration, with common forms showing a dark brown to black body with yellow legs and orange to red head, though some populations display entirely blue coloration with indigo stripes. It is primarily nocturnal and has been documented to exhibit cannibalistic behavior. The venom contains bioactive peptides with demonstrated antimicrobial properties against human pathogens.
Scolopendridae
Scolopendrid Centipedes
Scolopendridae is a family of large centipedes in the order Scolopendromorpha. Members are characterized by having 21 pairs of legs in most species, with rare exceptions showing 23, 39, or 43 leg pairs. The family includes notable amphibious species and exhibits considerable diversity in eye morphology, with most species possessing four ocelli per side but some being completely eyeless. Several species show sexual dimorphism in venom composition.