This is only the third identified amphibian centipede in the world, and it is the largest in the region, its
Scolopendra — it is a genus of large tropicalcentipedes, one of the original genera named by the father of modern taxonomy himself, Carl Linnaeus. They are predators in any soil ecosystem they live in, and there are about 100 different species found in tropical regions around the world. Of these, only five have been identified in Japan and Taiwan.
Scientists were thrilled when the news brokean unknown species of centipedes seen around the Ryukyu archipelago reportedly attacked giant freshwater shrimp. A team led by Sho Tsukamoto, his scientific advisor, Associate Professor Katsuyuki Eguchi from Tokyo Metropolitan University and Professor Satoshi Shimano from Hossei University, went in search and identification of this mysterious creature.
It turned out that they had discovered a completely new species.Genetic analysis confirmed that it was different from other scolopendras inhabiting the region. This is the largest species of centipede and is found in Japan and Taiwan. Having a beautiful jade-colored shell, it was named Scolopendra alcyona Tsukamoto & Shimano is named after the Greek mythological figure Alcyone, who was transformed into a kingfisher by Zeus. Its new Japanese name ryujin-ômukade also has mythological origins, as an homage to the region where the animal was found. Local myths say that the dragon god, or Ryujin, was in agony because a centipede struck his ear. It is said that when God saw a chicken quickly devouring a centipede, God became afraid of both centipedes and chickens. During the Ryukyu Kingdom, people painted chickens on their boats and raised a flag of centipedes to strike fear into the dragon gods and cross the sea safely.
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