Giant Red Centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes subspinipes)

Class: Chilopoda

Common name: Giant Red Centipede

Scientific name: Scolopendra subspinipes subspinipes 

Forget snakes. Forget spiders or scorpions... these are the only thing that truly scare me in Thailand. They are enormous, extremely fast and can pack a serious punch when it comes to biting. The giant red centipede allegedly grows to around 10 inches, but I swear I have seen them more in the 12 inch size... and they are wider than your thumb. I used to live near a lake and in the rainy season they would come out regularly. When it's hot I leave the door open... and once I heard this specimen (about 8 inches long) scurrying about in the leaves. It was about 15-20 feet away from where I was sitting and I still heard it. I have been bitten numerous times and even a small one (2 inches), gives a nasty, long-lasting bite. The pain shoots up your leg and then eventually it goes really itchy. Upon asking a Thai guy if they could kill, he responded with: "The chances are that they won't kill you, but if you are bitten by a big one, the pain is enough for you to wish that they did." You've been warned. But please don't kill them. It is rare that one will strike. They are more likely to run away.