The Tingling Centipede is both the largest and most venomous extant centipede. Unlike other centipedes, the “bite” of the tingling centipede can lead to the death of an adult human of average size. The difference is in its venom. While the venom of centipedes in the genus Scolopendra, traditionally considered a close relative, contains enzymes that function as pain mediators or cardiodepressants or those are specifically toxic to individual cells, the tingling centipede also will inject a fast acting, and quite deadly, neurotoxin with bizarre perceptual effects. The initial bite is described to feel like an electric shock, though it passes quickly. The first noticeable effect other than the pain and swelling associated with the bite is what is described as a temporary tingling feeling along the spine, leading to the centipede’s name. Within five minutes, and quite unusually, the bitten victim will find themselves losing color vision, seeing everything in shades of gray except, remarkably, for intense red. Soon afterward, paralysis begins to restrict movement and breath, eventually leading to death. The novelty of its venom has led some experts to doubt a close relationship with Scolopendra and instead suggest morphological similarities are due to convergent evolution.

The tingling centipede has a method of hunting unique to the species. While, like centipedes in Scolopendra, they will hunt smaller animals such as birds and rodents, their specialized toxin can and is used to bring down larger animals, ranging from sloths to the South America Tapir, typically when these creatures are resting. The centipede will then utilize the decomposing corpse as a food source that will last for an indefinite period of time. The centipede will often rest near or even in the corpse. Typically, predators and scavengers will avoid corpses if they see the centipede nearby, as the tingling centipede will bite in defense of its food, but the tingling centipede can also be rather skittish. Extended loud noises, including human screams, will startle the centipede, and will cause it to freeze, typically curling up into a small ball, or skitter away.

It is thought that the tingling centipede was able to remain undiscovered for so long as a consequence of human’s driving megafauna locally endangered or extinct in northern South America, constricting the centipede’s range to farther inland. However, local tribes, such as the Andoke, have had ample contact with the centipede. Its deadly powers have given it its own role in local mythology. The Andoke treat the centipede as a spiritual being closely associated with fear. They believe every human has a centipede living inside of them, and refer to screams as prayers to this being, typically seen as malevolent. This belief may have been brought on by individuals witnessing centipedes emerging from the corpses of humans they have killed, coupled with its general skittishness making it an uncommon sight otherwise. However, a belief in serpentine creatures which can affect the mind and live within the body is not unheard of by anthropologists. Comparable mythical entities did exist in Near Eastern mythology such as the goa’uld of ancient Egypt or the mighty butt serpents of Ishtar in Babylonian mythology.

The tingling centipede does not adapt well to temperate climates, and is thus constrained to its current range. However, sporadic escapes have temporarily expose Americans to the centipede. The most well-known of these escapes occurred in 1959 in a specialty theater playing the 1921 silent film Tol’able David. Luckily, only one bite occurred and thanks to quick medical attention the woman survived, though she was plagued for the rest of her life by permanent nerve damage.

Many people are most familiar with the tingling centipede on account of its associations with the bizarre theories of CIA-associated marine biologist Warren Chapin. Chapin was first brought under the wings of MKUltra as the agency attempted to procure cone snail toxin. However, Chapin began to also be employed in other functions outside his specialty, including LSD experiments on unwitting subjects. Following the accidental death of Martha Higgins, Chapin returned to academic life.

At some point Chapin became aware of the local legends concerning the tingling centipede and became fascinated with them. He dismissed the typically explanations of the legends as “culturally-chauvinistic,” arguing that any people immersed in local wilderness would recognize that the centipede existed normally outside of bodies. Traveling to South America to confirm his beliefs, he found a small parasite he identified as a juvenile tingling centipede to be common in the intestines and stools of the local indigenes. In actuality, Chapin had discovered something just as fascinating, what has been identifies as a wholly unknown phylum of panarthropods most closely related to onychophora, the velvet worms. However, despite external similarities to velvet worms, these groups of organisms split hundreds of millions of years ago and lack specializations towards terrestriality. Further research needs to occur into this unusual creatures, but has been hampered by their incredibly localized range and the unwillingness of local people to cooperate with researches.

It should be noted that these parasites have nothing beyond a slight resemblance to centipedes. Chapin at this time had become increasingly unhinged. Despite his shear insanity, Chapin cemented himself in history alongside John C. Lilly and John Buettner-Janusch as symbols to the simple fact that LSD and animals do not mix.