A 32 cm Centipede Enters a Home Near Da Nang Airport, Potentially a World Record Holder
Mr. Vu Hong Phuong, a 28-year-old resident of Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, Thac Ran Ward, Thanh Khe District, Da Nang City, reported that a few days ago he spotted a centipede crawling into his yard. “My whole family was very surprised. In the past, in this dense area, it was common for us to see centipedes enter our home, but this is the first time we’ve seen one this large,” Mr. Phuong stated.
The gigantic centipede caught by a Da Nang resident. (Photo: Vu Hong Phuong)
Curious about the unusual sight, Mr. Phuong captured the centipede and took pictures of it. He even measured the centipede and found it to be 32 cm long, with many large pairs of legs and two antennae.
The world record for the largest centipede was set last year in London, England, at a length of 27 cm. Therefore, Mr. Phuong believes that the centipede he caught could potentially break this world record.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Anh, an employee at the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, after viewing the photo sent by our reporter, stated that the centipede found in Da Nang belongs to the large species of the genus Scolopendra in the family Scolopendridae, order Scolopendromorpha. There are about 5-6 large species of this genus in Vietnam.
Centipedes are part of the arthropod group and belong to the subphylum Myriapoda. They typically inhabit damp areas and possess venomous fangs at their heads. A centipede bite can cause severe pain, spasms, nausea, and even loss of consciousness.
