About Scolopendra alternans Leach, 1813
Scolopendra alternans (published by Leach in 1813), commonly known as the Haitian giant centipede, Caribbean giant centipede, and Florida Keys centipede, is a species of large centipede in the subfamily Scolopendrinae. This species gained widespread news coverage after an incident at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park: an extremely rare rim rock crown snake (Tantilla oolitica) died of asphyxiation while trying to eat a Scolopendra alternans, and the centipede also died. This species can be found throughout the Caribbean and northern South America. The original Florida population of this species has been reevaluated and classified as the distinct species Scolopendra longipes. Scolopendra alternans has also been reported as far north as Georgia.
