The body of an adult Scutigera coleoptrata is 25 to 35 mm (0.98 to 1.38 in) in length.[3] Up to 15 pairs of long legs are attached to the rigid body. Together with the antennae they give the centipede an appearance of being 75 to 100 mm (3 to 4 in) in length.[3] The delicate legs enable it to reach surprising speeds of up to 0.4 meters per second (1.3 ft/s)[4] running across floors, up walls and along ceilings. Its body is yellowish-grey and has three dark dorsal stripes running down its length; the legs also have dark stripes. S. coleoptrata has developed automimicry in that its hind legs present the appearance of antennae. When the centipede is at rest, it is not easy to tell its front from its back.