Novel foraging behaviors of Scolopendra dehaani (Chilopoda: Scolopendridae) in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Large Scolopendrid centipedes are capable of preying on small vertebrates. However, details on their foraging behavior and diet under natural conditions are lacking. We describe novel behaviors of a widely distributed Southeast Asian centipede, Scolopendra dehaani, in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. We report the first documented observation of a Scolopendra species actively foraging and capturing prey diurnally, as well as the first arboreal predation by S. dehaani, and provide brief insight into prey handling strategies large Scolopendrids may use to subdue vertebrate prey. Each of the three predation events were of S. dehaani feeding on small vertebrates, indicating that vertebrate prey may make up an important component of S. dehaani diet in the wild. We suggest S. dehaani, and likely other large “terrestrial” Scolopendrid centipedes which live in tropical forests, forage arboreally and may rely on large trees as arboreal refuges when terrestrial refuges are limited. Additionally, these observations demonstrate that some S. dehaani individuals may occasionally actively search for prey diurnally. Further studies are needed to better understand the ecological habits of S. dehaani and other tropical Scolopendra species.