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Encyclopedia > Centipedes

For the arcade game called Centipede see Centipede (video game).



Centipedes

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Orders

Geophilomorpha
Lithobiomorpha
Scolopendrida
Scutigerida

Centipedes (Class Chilopoda) are fast-moving, venomous, predatory terrestrial arthropods that have long bodies and many jointed legs. Chiefly nocturnal, centipedes are found primarily in tropical climates. Like the closely-related millipedes, they are highly segmented (15 to 173 segments), with one pair of walking legs per segment. Centipedes are dorso-ventrally flattened, and are among the fastest and most agile of arthropod predators.

Note that claw arises from the first thoracic segment
Enlarge
Note that claw arises from the first thoracic segment

The head of a centipede has a pair of antennae and jaw-like mandibles and other mouthparts that evolved from modified appendages. The most anterior trunk segment of a centipede has a pair of poison claws (called maxillipeds) that are used for both defense and for capturing and paralyzing prey.


The familiar house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) is a fast-moving carnivore that feeds on insects such as cockroaches and other small invertebrates.

 


See also

Reference

  • Neil A. Campbell, Biology: Fourth Edition, (Benjamin/Cummings Publishing, New York) 1996 page 614 ISBN 0-8053-1957-3

External links



  Results from FactBites:
 
Fertilizing Centipede Grass Correctly (529 words)
Centipede’s popularity is due in large part to its reputation as a low maintenance lawn.
Centipede is especially susceptible to winter injury when there are large fluctuations in temperatures during the winter.
A good general fertilizer for centipede is one that has about the same amount of potassium (K) as nitrogen (N) with low levels of phosphorous (P).
centipede. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-05 (483 words)
Centipedes are the most familiar of the myriapodous arthropods, which consist of five groups of arthropods that had a separate origin from other arthropods.
Centipedes are widely distributed in temperate and tropical lands, living in the soil or surface litter, and under logs or rocks.
Centipedes are chiefly nocturnal and predominantly carnivorous, feeding on insects or other small arthropods, though the largest species can kill small vertebrates.
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