[3] At up to 25 cm in length, it is the largest centipede in New Zealand.

This species was given its Latin name by George Newport in 1843 as Scolopendra rubriceps.

[4] Newport published a description of the species under that name in 1845.

[5] This species is very large, sometimes exceeding 10cm in length.

The body is typically dark red while the legs are coloured yellow fading into green.