Swimming centipede is a type of giant venomous centipede that is also a powerful swimmer. It is the first centipede known to spend time in the water. The swimming centipede is found in rivers in the Southeast Asian countries of Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The swimming centipede is nocturnal (active at night). When it enters the water, it swims with powerful undulations (wriggles) of its body, similar to the way an eel swims. The swimming centipede eats small aquatic invertebrates (animals without backbones). It hunts both on land and in the water. The swimming centipede uses fangs behind its head called poison claws to bite and paralyze its prey. Its bite is painful to people but not fatal.
The swimming centipede has long legs and grows up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) in length.
