Centipedes are the kind creatures that are not to be messed . Their venom packs a serious punch and can cause rapid paralysis and death insects and small animals. They have even been known to kill people their highly venomous sting. Scientists have now discovered a deadly toxin centipede venom that can shut the hearts animals that are 15 times bigger than them. The scientists isolated a toxin the Chinese red-headed centipede. This beast can grow to roughly eight inches length. The toxin its venom blocks potassium from moving in and out of cells. This blocking potassium prevents the brain from sending signals to the heart to beat, thus causing a rapid death.
The venom is rarely fatal humans, but it can cause agonizing pain and swelling for to two weeks. The scientists have called it SSM Spooky Toxin. Researcher Shilong Yang, an expert toxins China's Kunming Institute of Zoology, explained: "The "centipede's venom has evolved to simultaneously disrupt cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular and nervous systems. This molecular strategy has not been found other venomous animals." Despite their name (centi is "hundred" in Latin and pedis is "foot"), centipedes do not have 100 legs. They have a varying number legs, ranging from 30 to 354. Centipedes always have an odd number pairs legs. This means no centipede has exactly 100 legs.
