By: Celia Peru  Hello there! Have you ever seen a Giant Desert Centipede??? Well if not I want to tell you a little about that critter. The Giant Desert Centipede is a nocturnal creature located in the Sonora desert. They find comfort in dark places. Giant Desert Centipedes are known for their hunting skills. They have flat orange bodies, with black heads and tails. They also have a very venomous bite!
WHO AM I?
I am known as a Scolopendra heros, you know me as a Giant Desert Caterpillar. I’m a critter and have a low tolerance for heat. I’m a nocturnal creature and use my pincers when attacking.
WHERE DO I LIVE?
My habitat are subject to a large range of areas. Including but not limited to the desert, and I have also been located in the tropics and at sea shore. Giant centipedes are located in the south regions of the U.S. and Mexico. I find comfort in dark places. Some examples are under rocks, logs, underground and litter. WHAT DO I EAT?
My species is commonly known as hunters. Although I have poor vision my keen senses allow me to embark in a feast. I mostly prey on insects, arthropods, lizards and small rodents are included in my centipede diet. HOW DO I LOOK?
I have been known to grow an estimated 6-8 inches in length. My body appears flat and multi sectioned. Each section of my body consists of a single pair of legs. Desert giant centipede are mostly orange with the exception our heads and tails which are black. HOW DO I REPRODUCE?
The females in our species protect eggs for 3 weeks. Mainly the females protect their eggs from mold and bacteria by cleaning them prior to hatching. The mother stays with the hatched eggs only two to three days after hatching. After this time the critters go their separate ways. FUN FACT ABOUT ME? Although centipede means “100”. I have been known to have 21 segments with only two legs per segment. Which are often much less than “100”. We are also known for our venomous bites.  ACTIVITY TIME!!!! Kindergarteners-Now use your drawing skills to represent the Giant Desert Centipede the best you can. Use the pictures to get ideas of color, shapes and details. When your finished have an adult write down your words about the most interesting thing you learned about the Giant Desert Centipede! Be creative and have fun!!! First and Second Graders- Now use your drawing skills to represent the Giant Desert Centipede the best you can use the pictures to get ideas of color, shapes and details. Then write two or three descriptive sentences about what you have learned about the Giant Desert Centipede. Third Graders-Find a picture of a Giant Desert Centipede on the Internet, cut and copy the picture to a word document. Next to the picture draw your best representation of the Giant Desert Centipede. Now write a story about a paragraph in length and include some facts about the Giant Desert centipede that you learned. Have fun with this, there is no right or wrong! Be creative!!! ASSESSMENT TIME!!! FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ME ON THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES!!!
http://www.desertmuseum.org/kids/oz/long-fact-sheets/Desert%20Centipede.php |