AGENCE FRANCE PRESS September 1, 2005 Still growing
Aaron Balick, 32, a psychotherapist from north London, trapped a long, pink centipede behind his TV set in July and took it in a plastic box to Britain's Natural History Museum. Experts identified it as Scolopendra gigantea - the world's largest species of centipede. The creature - which is still growing - measured 9 inches long by just under an inch wide, not including its many legs. Recalling the find recently, Balick said he at first thought a mouse was rustling beneath a pile of papers. "Instead, when I lifted the papers, I saw this prehistoric-looking animal skitter away behind a stack of books. I was shocked." Entomologist Stuart Hine, manager of the museum's insect identification service, told Balick it was fortunate he did not pick up the poisonous arthropod. Balick said: "I informed him that there was no way picking it up was ever an option! The museum can keep it." The centipede probably hitched a ride to Britain from its native home in Central or South America in electrical equipment or fruit. Scolopendra gigantea has front claws specially adapted to deliver venom, which can cause blistering rash, nausea and fever, but is rarely life-threatening. - AFP __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
