Cormocephalus rubriceps explained

Cormocephalus rubriceps, also known as the Hura^{[1] [2]} or giant centipede, 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.

Taxonomy

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]

Description

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]

External links

• TerraNature
• LandCare
• Massey University Soil Bugs
• CSIRO

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2021. hura. live. 2 June 2021. Māori dictionary. https://web.archive.org/web/20170412034107/http://maoridictionary.co.nz/word/41417 . 2017-04-12 .
2. Miller . David . 1952 . The Insect People of the Maori . The Journal of the Polynesian Society . 61 . 1/2 . 1–61 . 20703320 . 0032-4000.
3. Web site: Giant centipede . 2020-07-14 . Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research . en.
4. Newport. George. February 1844. XIII.— A List of the species of Myriapoda, Order Chilopoda, contained in the Cabinets of the British Museum, with synoptic descriptions of forty-seven new Species. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. en. 13. 82. 94–101. 10.1080/03745484409442576. 0374-5481.
5. Newport. George. 1845. Monograph of the Class Myriapoda, Order Chilopoda.. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. 19. 4 . 349–440. 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1842.tb00370.x . Biodiversity Heritage Library.
6. Archey . G . Notes on New Zealand Chilopoda . Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute . 53 . 181–195.