Chinese Red Head Centipede (Scolopendra mutilans)

Juvenile: 8-10cm  Sub-adult: 11-13cm  Adult: 14-16cm

The Chinese red-headed centipede, also known as the Chinese red head, (Scolopendra mutilans) is a centipede from East Asia and Australasia. It averages 20 cm (8 inches) in length and lives in damp environments. In ancient Chinese traditions, this centipede is used for its healing properties. It is said that putting a Chinese red head on a rash or other skin-disease will speed up the healing process. The roasted dry centipede is pulverized and used in Korea for the treatment of back pain, furuncles and sores. Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans is known for harbouring little aggression to other centipedes, a trait very rare amongst giant centipedes and allows it to be kept communally. Females are incubatoral mothers, guarding the eggs by wrapping their body around the clutch until it hatches.*

*References: Wikipedia