Amazonian Giant Centipede

Lying in bed, half-asleep, just before dawn, I felt something on my arm. It was like a silk ribbon being pulled across my skin. I glanced over at Gail who was still asleep. It suddenly occurred to me that there was something moving in our bed!

Dead centipede with a Bajan quarter for scale

Scolopendra gigantea, or the Amazonian giant centipede, can get up to a foot long, though this one was about 4 inches. They hunt other arthropods, even frogs, lizards and small birds. They bite their prey with their fangs and inject a venom. A fascinating creature, and fortunately not deadly to humans.

But I wasn't taking any chances. I switched on the light, shook the sheets, and saw him scurrying across the floor. I generally avoid killing things but made an exception here. One quick blow from my iPhone and it was over.