centipede
Sign in to saveCentipedes (from Neo-Latin , "hundred", and Latin , "foot") are predatory arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda (Ancient Greek , kheilos, "lip", and Neo-Latin suffix , "foot", describing the forcipules) of the subphylum Myriapoda, an arthropod group which includes millipedes and other multi-legged animals. Centipedes are elongated segmented (metameric) animals with one pair of legs per body segment. All centipedes are venomous and can inflict painful stings, injecting their venom through pincer-like appendages known as forcipules or toxicognaths, which are actually modified legs instead
AI overview
Centipedes are predatory arthropods with elongated, segmented bodies and one pair of legs per segment, belonging to a larger group of multi-legged animals called myriapods. All centipedes are venomous and use specialized pincer-like appendages called forcipules to inject venom into their prey, making them effective hunters in their environments.
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Article
26 sectionsContents
- Description
- Sensory organs
- Forcipules
- Body
- Ultimate legs
- Distinction from millipedes
- Life cycle
- Reproduction
- Development
- Ecology
- Diet
- Predators
- Defences
- Habitat and behaviour
- Threatened species
- Evolution
- Fossil history
- External phylogeny
- Internal phylogeny
- Evolution of venoms
- Interaction with humans
- As food
- Hazard
- References
- Sources
- External links
Centipedes (from Neo-Latin , "hundred", and Latin , "foot") are predatory arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda (Ancient Greek , kheilos, "lip", and Neo-Latin suffix , "foot", describing the forcipules) of the subphylum Myriapoda, an arthropod group which includes millipedes and other multi-legged animals. Centipedes are elongated segmented (metameric) animals with one pair of legs per body segment. All centipedes are venomous and can inflict painful stings, injecting their venom through pincer-like appendages known as forcipules or toxicognaths, which are actually modified legs instead of fangs. Despite the name, no species of centipede has exactly 100 legs; the number of pairs of legs is an odd number that ranges from 15 pairs to 191 pairs.
Centipedes are predominantly generalist carnivores, hunting for a variety of prey items that can be overpowered. They have a wide geographical range, which can be found in terrestrial habitats from tropical rainforests to deserts. Within these habitats, centipedes require a moist microhabitat because they lack the waxy cuticle of insects and arachnids, causing them to rapidly lose water. Accordingly, they avoid direct sunlight by staying under cover or by being active at night.