Our Animal Ambassadors

Chinese Red-headed Centipede

Amazonian Giant Centipede

Amazonian Giant Centipede

House Centipede

Centipedes (Chilopoda)

Taxonomy
KINGDOM:
Animalia (animals)
PHYLUM:
Arthropoda (arthropods, jointed-legged animals)
SUBPHYLUM:
Myriapoda (myriapods, many-legged arthropods)
CLASS:
Chilopoda (centipedes)

There are over 3,000 recognized species in the world, with about 2,500 of them named. Taxanomically they are most commonly grouped as myriapods under the phylum Arthropoda (including insects, spiders, crabs, scorpions, and other myriapods - such as millepedes), and comprise the class, Chilopoda.

Physical Description
Legs
Though the name 'centipede' means '100 legs', most don't have nearly that many and some have significantly more! They can have anywhere from 25 to 170 pairs of feet.
Body
Their bodies are divided into segments. The first segment is a head with a pair of antennae and the rest of the segments each have a pair of legs attached

Distribution
Around the world, found on every continent except Antarctica

Habitat
Moist habitats or areas of high humidity

Size
Most centipedes are between 1.5 - 2" (4 - 5 cm) with about 15 pairs of legs. But their sizes do range from 0.8" - 12" (2 - 30 cm) and they can have from 15 to 191 pairs of legs. The largest centipede is Scolopendra gigantca (12") from Central America.

Diet
Carnivorous - Most centipedes feeds on insects and other invertebrates. Larger species could prey on vertebrates including mice, frogs, small lizards and snakes.

Life Cycle
Centipedes have incomplete metamorphosis: young centipedes hatch from eggs and look like small adults. Centipedes shed their skin (a process called "molting") as they grow into adults, usually adding legs each time they molt.

Centipede or Millipede?
Centipedes are long, multi-segmented arthropods that resemble millipedes. Centipedes have only 1 pair of legs on each segment, while millipedes have 2 pairs on most segments.

Pest?
Centipedes are predators, so they are not pests of crops, garden plants, or stored food. Sometimes, though, they get into homes, where their frightening appearance and painful bites can occasionally cause problems. Most centipedes are not dangerous unless a bite victim has an allergic reaction to the bite - a potential problem with any insect or insect relative. Centipede bites are very rare in the world. Only a few large species have dangerous bites.

Did You Know?
Centipedes are used as ingredients in treatments for malaria and snakebites in some cultures.