Centipede Facts

This weekend, you made a date with yourself and decided to go on a cleaning spree and ransack your own room. You scanned the whole room and diagnosed the situation. You went to pick up the broom that stood there in the corner. The moment you picked it up, a miniature train-like insect sprinted from under your legs, and as if jolted from each of your senses; you sprinted in opposite direction and made your way out of the house. Now you stand outside, shivering and wondering what monster hell hath unleashed today, and are afraid to go inside. We have some consolation for you. The miniature train-like insect you saw was just a centipede, one of the many insects that roam around unnoticed. Agreed, there’s something about this creepy-crawly that makes your guts cringe with an ineffable feeling that sometimes even you don’t understand; all the more worse if you have entomophobia or fear of insects. Just a mere of sight of it gives many of you the feeling that it’s on you, creeping and crawling without making you aware of its presence. Check out some facts about centipedes that will help you to acquaint with one of the oldest living organisms on earth.

Interesting Facts About Centipedes

Centipedes are one of the oldest living organisms on earth with fossils dating back to 400 million years.
Although grouped together with insects, a centipede is not from insect family but is from animal family. It is an arthropod belonging to the class chilopoda of the subphylum myriapoda.
Though the name centipede means 100 feet, some have even more than 100 legs, sometimes even over 300 legs. Observations have shown that they always have pair of legs in odd numbers.
There are more than 8000 species of centipedes in the world, but only 3000 have been studied closely, scientifically.
Centipedes are carnivorous, which means they are non-vegetarians and survive on meat only. Their main prey includes other smaller insects, spiders, and worms. Some of the largest centipedes have also been known to hunt small mammals and reptiles.
Centipedes also have a fair share of predators like frogs, toads, birds, and even mice.
Centipedes are nocturnal (active during the night) and move fast.
Centipedes are found worldwide except in Antarctica. They require moist environment to survive in, hence they are found mostly in soil, under stones and leafs, and under tree logs or waste wood.
Centipedes are often confused with millipedes because both look like close cousins. Centipedes are poisonous though, a trait that’s not present in millipedes.
Centipedes range from being just few millimeters to 30 centimeters long.
Though a bite from a centipede can be painful, it is not fatal unless the person is allergic to the poison. Even then it is not as bad as a scorpion bite or snake bite. This poison is also brought into action by paralyzing its prey before eating it.
Female centipedes are known to lay an average of 60 eggs, which are usually buried under the soil. Some species are also known to nurse the eggs.
Most of the centipede species don’t have eyes and rely on their sensory receptors or antennae to hunt for food.

Remember, these centipede facts the next time you see one, its race goes back 400 million years.

How to Cite

Related Articles

See also

More in 'Society'