The Giant Desert Centipede (Scolopendra heros) is the largest centipede species in North America, reaching up to 8 inches in length. It is found throughout Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and northern Mexico, thriving in desert scrub, rocky terrain, and grasslands. Its body is typically reddish-orange to dark brown with yellow-green legs, and the head and last segment are often distinctly darker. Like all centipedes, it has one pair of legs per body segment — in this species, 21–23 pairs. It is a powerful predator that hunts lizards, mice, large insects, and other arthropods at night. While not aggressive toward humans, it will bite defensively if handled or cornered. The venom is medically significant and can cause intense localized pain, swelling, and in rare cases systemic reactions. It shelters under rocks, logs, debris, and in soil during the day and is most active after dark, especially following monsoon rains.