Giant desert centipede

Gifkracht

Beten

Het gif komt naar buiten via de giftanden of tanden als het bijt.

Wat doet zijn gif als het bijt of steekt?

Its venom is similar to that of other Scolopendra centipedes. It acts as a cytolysin, which damages cell membranes and ruptures cells, and it contains heart-affecting (cardiotoxic) proteins. The exact effects of the venom have not been fully studied, because it is hard to collect in useful amounts and breaks down quickly once processed.1

Hoe gevaarlijk is het voor mensen?

Bites cause sharp, searing pain and swelling in people, and there have never been any confirmed deaths from this species. Occasional symptoms include nausea, headache and localised skin death (necrosis). Severe cases, including kidney failure from muscle breakdown and heart attack, have been reported from Scolopendra bites in general.1

Wat doet het als het bang is?

Its bright warning colours are a signal to predators to leave it alone.1