Chilopoda
For the arcade game called Centipede see Centipede (video game).
Geophilomorpha
Lithobiomorpha
Scolopendrida
Scutigerida
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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.
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
