Cormocephalus rubriceps | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
Class: | Chilopoda |
Order: | Scolopendromorpha |
Family: | Scolopendridae |
Genus: | Cormocephalus |
Species: | C. rubriceps
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Binomial name | |
Cormocephalus rubriceps (Newport, 1843)
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Cormocephalus rubriceps, also known as the Hura[1][2] or giant centipede,[3] is a large centipede of the family Scolopendridae. It is native to Australia and New Zealand, where it is found in the North Island and on islands off the North Island.[3] At up to 25 cm in length, it is the largest centipede in New Zealand.
This species was given its Latin name by George Newport in 1843 as Scolopendra rubriceps.[4] Newport published a description of the species under that name in 1845.[5]
This species is very large, sometimes exceeding 10cm in length. The body is typically dark red while the legs are coloured yellow fading into green.[6]