02011nas a2200205 4500008004100000022001400041245011800055210006900173260001500242520134400257653002001601653001301621653001201634653001401646653002301660653002201683100002401705700002001729856005601749 2021 eng d a1742-759200aNovel foraging behaviors of Scolopendra dehaani (Chilopoda: Scolopendridae) in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand0 aNovel foraging behaviors of iScolopendra dehaanii Chilopoda Scol c29/01/20213 a

Large Scolopendrid centipedes are capable of preying on small vertebrates. However, details on their foraging behavior and diet under natural conditions are lacking. We describe novel behaviors of a widely distributed Southeast Asian centipede, Scolopendra dehaani, in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. We report the first documented observation of a Scolopendra species actively foraging and capturing prey diurnally, as well as the first arboreal predation by S. dehaani, and provide brief insight into prey handling strategies large Scolopendrids may use to subdue vertebrate prey. Each of the three predation events were of S. dehaani feeding on small vertebrates, indicating that vertebrate prey may make up an important component of S. dehaani diet in the wild. We suggest S. dehaani, and likely other large “terrestrial” Scolopendrid centipedes which live in tropical forests, forage arboreally and may rely on large trees as arboreal refuges when terrestrial refuges are limited. Additionally, these observations demonstrate that some S. dehaani individuals may occasionally actively search for prey diurnally. Further studies are needed to better understand the ecological habits of S. dehaani and other tropical Scolopendra species.

10aActive foraging10aArboreal10aDiurnal10apredation10aPredatory behavior10aScolopendromorpha1 aHodges, Cameron, W.1 aGoodyear, Jesse uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s42690-021-00431-9