[10][8][6][9] Researchers at the Tokyo Metropolitan University first heard reports of S. alcyona as an unidentified centipede attacking and feeding on freshwater prawns in the Ryukyu archipelago.

[9][11] A group of researchers led by myriapodologist Sho Tsukamoto and Associate Professor Katsuyuki Eguchi then verified the sightings, and described it as a new species, using genetic analysis to confirm the discovery.

[5] Scolopendra alcyona lives in forested streamside habitats in the Ryukyu archipelago and Taiwan.

Struck with grief, she threw herself into the sea, but the gods pitied her and transformed her and her husband Ceyx into kingfisher (Halcyon) birds.

The local people then began to paint chickens on their boats and hoist centipede flags as a way to ensure safe voyage in the sea and scare off the god.