Facts about Centipedes
- 09
Centipede blood contains hemocyanin, a copper-based oxygen-carrying protein that gives their circulatory fluid a blue tint instead of the red iron-based hemoglobin found in vertebrates.
- 08
Centipedes possess a specialized pair of venomous fangs called forcipules located on their first body segment, which evolved from modified legs rather than true jaw structures.
- 07
Each segment of a centipede's body develops with a single pair of legs, allowing scientists to determine an individual's age by counting the number of body segments present.
- 06
Scutigera coleoptrata, the house centipede, can see with compound eyes containing up to 12 lenses each, an unusual ability among centipede species that typically rely on vision-poor or eyeless anatomy.
- 05
Most centipede species are nocturnal hunters that use two long antennae with chemoreceptors to detect prey in complete darkness by sensing chemical trails on the ground.
- 04
A centipede's speed can reach 1.3 feet per second, allowing these arthropods to chase down prey with remarkable agility across forest floors and soil surfaces.
- 03
Centipedes can live up to 6 years in the wild, making them among the longest-lived arthropods relative to their body size.
- 02
The venom of the giant Amazonian centipede can kill prey up to 15 times its own body weight through potent neurotoxins delivered via modified front legs called forcipules.
- 01
Over 8,000 species of centipedes exist today, with leg counts ranging from 30 to 354 pairs depending on the species.