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
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.
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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