These are preserved in specimen vials that are approx. a little over 4 1/4 x 1/2". These little guys are legit! Nice addition to any collection!
The Scolopendromorpha, also known as tropical centipedes, possess 21 or 23 body segments (apart from a single species, Scolopendropsis duplicata, which has 39 or 43 segments) with the same number of paired legs. Their antennae have 17 or more segments. The eyes have a fixed number of four ocelli on each side in the family Scolopendridae and one ocellus per side in the genus Mimops (family Mimopidae), but other families are blind. The order comprises the five families Cryptopidae, Scolopendridae, Mimopidae, Scolopocryptopidae, and Plutoniumidae. The only 2 known amphibious centipedes, Scolopendra cataracta and Scolopendra paradoxa belong to this order
The specimen will come in a bag with just a small amount of alcohol in it to make sure it does not dry in shipping. The specimen should be removed from the bag, added to your/the jar and filled with the 70 percent alcohol to the top of the specimen once you receive.
If you do not have alcohol readily available you may freeze the specimen, wrap the specimen in double freezer bags with no air in the specimen bag and thaw when you have your alcohol available.
* These are not for Human or Animal consumption, the product is not alive or edible. Use gloves and mask when handling specimens. ISOPROPYL AND FORMALIN IN THE PRODUCT IS FLAMMABLE! KEEP AWAY FROM HEAT AND OPEN FLAME.*
This item has been professionally preserved for display. Wear gloves and mask when handling wet specimens*
Instructions for wet specimens:
These are professionally preserved specimens and undergo a quality control process, they are checked prior to preservation to make sure the specimen is intact; after the curing process to check if curing was complete; and prior to shipping to ensure a high quality specimen. It is however illegal to ship it in the alcohol so 70 percent isopropyl alcohol (as per noted in the listing) does need to be added once you receive. The specimen will come double bagged in most cases. The specimen should be removed from the bag, added to the jar (some are provided and some are not-it will state in the listing if the jar is included) and filled with the 70 percent isopropyl alcohol to the top of the specimen once you receive. Please use gloves any time you are dealing with a wet specimen as they are prepared with Formalin.
If you do not have 70 percent isopropyl alcohol readily available you may refrigerate or freeze the specimen. If freezing, wrap the specimen in double freezer bags with no air in the specimen bag and thaw when you have your alcohol or container available. You may also put the specimen in the refrigerator for a day or two if you have to pick up the 70 percent isopropyl alcohol. ONLY 70 percent should be used.
Alcohol color tinges: I have found that it is typical that the liquid will change color in the jar with some specimens when you first add it to your specimen- don’t be alarmed by this. After a week or two, drain all the liquid, rinse the specimen and put it back in the jar, and replace the alcohol with fresh new liquid. Also be aware that the liquid will always darken after time.
Properly caring for your collection of jarred specimens is important, not just so they stay in good condition but also so that you don’t burn your house down. NEVER store a wet specimen somewhere that is overly warm (a house in the summer with no air conditioning) and always keep them away from direct sunlight. Never ever ever smoke or burn candles nearby and never store your specimens near a heater or fireplace - they are extremely flammable!
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including formaldehyde (formalin), which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
WARNING:
For external use only. If orally ingested, serious gastric disturbance, illness or death will result. Do not ingest, the product is not edible. Avoid contact with eyes. In case of eye contact, flush thoroughly with water. Call a physician.
First Aid: In case of ingestion, call poison control at 1-800-222-1222. Avoid getting into eyes or on mucous membranes. In case of eye contact, flush thoroughly with water. Call a physician immediately.
STORE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE! KEEP CONTAINER CLOSED WHEN NOT IN USE
WARNING! ISOPROPYL AND FORMALIN IN THE PRODUCT IS FLAMMABLE!
KEEP AWAY FROM HEAT AND OPEN FLAME.
We do our best to ensure all specimens, animals, insects and flora, used in our displays or offered by us are sustainably sourced.
If you purchase a second item with your order and send a note with the order that says "gift", we will include a gift with your order. All orders must have 2 or more items (not identical) to qualify. Our way of saying "Thank you" for looking!
All displays will be carefully packed to the best of our ability to insure a safe and damage free arrival.
POSTAL INSURANCE -Our shipping prices include insurance.
USPS, Shipcover, etc., all cost are included in shipping fees and/or item pricing and included with your purchase so all items are insured in case of damage.
If damage occurs in shipping the post office now requires you to bring the package into a postal center/office for inspection before any insurance payments will be approved and the item has to be in the original shipping box with all packing as you received still in the box. Your refund will be processed once the package has been inspected and the receipt from the post office acknowledging the inspection is forwarded to us. This is an ordeal that no one wants to go through, including us, so we do our best to make sure no one has too!
Items that ship free and are returned for incorrect address or insufficient address will be charged a restocking fee or shipping fee to cover initial shipping costs and the balance refunded or given the option to purchase shipping for resending the item with corrected address.
