Deadly centipedes eat animals 15 times their size

Though centipedes are comparatively small creatures, yet they can kill and eat creatures 15 times their sizes with the help of their deadly venom.

When most predators prey on animals smaller than them, centipedes function the opposite way by preying on animals bigger than them. Researchers from Venezuela discovered centipedes that would crawl up cave walls to eat bats or eat a mouse weighing 45 grams as compared to the 3 grams weight of itself, with the help of its strong toxic venom.

In their research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, author Shilong Yang and team discovered the toxin that the called ‘Ssm Spooky Toxin’, which provides the centipedes with this ability to defeat its prey within 30 seconds. When the centipede bites and spreads its venom in its prey, it blocks the movement of potassium into and out of the cells of the prey, taking its ability to breathe, as per The Washington Post.

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The authors theorized that the deadly venom stops the blood flow to the heart that ultimately leads to heart failure and death. Yang exclaimed, “Because potassium channels exist throughout the body centipedes’ venom has evolved to simultaneously disrupt cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular and nervous systems. This molecular strategy has not been found in other venomous animals.”

The researchers suggested a drug known as ‘Retigabine’, which is used to treat epilepsy, to possibly counteract the venom by opening the blocked potassium ducts. In future, the team wants to test the drug on the unfortunate preys of the centipede’s bite, reported Newsweek.