Common Desert Centipede Scolopendra polymorpha

Talk about a world traveler—this desert specialist appears across western North America, Hawaii, Southern Africa, and beyond, making it one of the most widely distributed centipedes on Earth. Its many common names—tiger centipede, Sonoran Desert centipede, and banded desert centipede—reflect how different cultures recognize its success. The dramatic banding pattern helps it disappear into desert rocks and soil, a master of camouflage perfectly adapted to arid terrain. Wherever dry climates exist, this centipede seems to find its way and thrive.