Scorpiopede

Nepapede harpagabdominus

Nepapede harpagabdominus (Scorpiopede) is an aquatic neopede living in colonies that thrive wherever bodies of water are bordered by sufficient crops of their favored food, algae. As its name suggests, the scorpiopede resembles a cross between a centipede and a scorpion, with a reduced number of typical limbs used for terrestrial locomotion, the further back limbs have been repurposed to support a large fan-like structure that is used as a paddle as well as an intimidation display, when reared up it appears similar to a cobras hood. Scorpiopedes are venomous but unlike other centipedes, their venom is produced in the pincer located on the end of its tail, similar to a scorpion.

Eggs were laid under branches or vegetation overhanging water. Hatching nymphs fell into the water, where they hunted as small, free-swimming predators, devoid of external legs. After three years the nymphs shed their skins to emerge as fully formed amphibious adults. Adults switch their diet to primarily consist of algae, grazing algae from logs, rocks and tree trunks with their shear-like mouthparts. However they are not above eating meat if it presents itself.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Neopedimorpha
Family: Aquapedidae
Genus: Nepapede
Species: N. harpagabdominus