Centipedes are predatory arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda of the subphylum Myriapoda, an arthropod group which includes millipedes and other multi-legged animals. Centipedes are elongated segmented (metameric) creatures with one pair of legs per body segment. All centipedes are venomous and can inflict painful stings, injecting their venom through pincer-like appendages known as forcipules or toxicognaths, which are actually modified legs instead of fangs. Despite the name, no centipede has exactly 100 pairs of legs; number of legs ranges from 15 pairs to 191 pairs, always an odd number.
Scolopendra subspinipes is a species of very large centipede found throughout southeastern Asia. One of the most widespread and common species in the genus Scolopendra, it is also found on virtually all land areas around and within the Indian Ocean, all of tropical and subtropical Asia from Russia to the islands of Malaysia and Indonesia, Australia, South and Central America, the Caribbean islands, and possibly parts of the southern United States, but how much of this range is natural and how much due to human introduction is unclear. With a wide geographic range and numerous color variations, the species is known by many common names, including jungle centipede, orange-legged centipede, Hawaiian centipede, and Vietnamese centipede.
Scolopendridae is a family of large centipedes.
Scolopendra is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae.
Cormocephalus rubriceps, also known as the Hura or giant centipede, is a large centipede of the family Scolopendridae. It is native to Australia and New Zealand, where it is found in the North Island and on islands off the North Island. At up to 25 cm in length, it is the largest centipede in New Zealand.
Lithobius variegatus is a species of centipede found in Europe, sometimes called the common banded centipede or banded centipede.
Scolopendra morsitans, also known as the Tanzanian blue ringleg or red-headed centipede, is a species of centipede in the family Scolopendridae. S. morsitans is the type species for the genus Scolopendra.
Scolopendra hardwickei, the Indian tiger centipede, is a species of centipede in the family Scolopendridae.
Scolopendra cataracta is a species of centipede in the family Scolopendridae. It is the first known amphibious centipede, growing to up to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length.
Orphnaeus brevilabiatus is a species of centipedes in the family Oryidae.
Cormocephalus westwoodi is a species of centipedes in the family Scolopendridae. The species was previously considered by many names in many regions of the world, where some synonyms are still exists valid in certain countries. Five subspecies are currently recognized.
Rhysida longipes, sometimes known as Minor blue leg, is a species of centipedes in the family Scolopendridae. Three subspecies are recognized. It is sometimes used as a pet in some countries.
Ethmostigmus is a genus of centipedes in the family Scolopendridae found in Africa, Asia, and Oceania that is characterised by its large, rounded spiracles.
Scolopendra dehaani, common name Giant Vietnamese centipede, is a large Scolopendrid centipede found across Mainland Southeast Asia. It is also found in India, Japan, Hong Kong, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The centipedes or Chilopoda are divided into five orders, which are grouped into two subclasses, Pleurostigmomorpha and Notostigmomorpha, the latter of which comprises only one order, the Scutigeromorpha.
Rhysida is a large genus of Scolopendromorph centipede in the subfamily Otostigminae. It is the second largest genus in the subfamily Otostigminae, with species found in the Neotropics, Indo-Malaya, and Africa. It shares some morphological characteristics with the genus Alluropus, and its phylogeny in the subfamily Otostigminae is somewhat uncertain.
Arthrorhabdus paucispinus is a species of centipede in the family Scolopendridae. Endemic to Australia, it was first described in 1984 by Australian myriapodologist L. E. Koch. It is a medium-sized species, up to 64 millimetres long, with a reddish-brown head and pale brown body segments. It has 14 to 18 segments on its antennae, large teeth on the feeding mouthparts, and its last pair of legs feature short bristles and a small projection.
Arthrorhabdus mjobergi is a species of centipede in the Scolopendridae family. It is endemic to Australia, and was first described in 1916 by German naturalist Karl Kraepelin from material collected by Swedish zoologist and explorer Eric Mjöberg. It is a relatively small species, averaging 38 millimetres in length, with a pale brownish-yellow body, reddish-brown head, and variably coloured last segment and back legs. Its notable characteristics include short, 17-segmented antennae, mouthparts with 4 or 5 large outward-facing teeth, body segments with distinct median indentations, and varied leg features such as bristles at the base of claws on the first 20 pairs and 2 to 5 spines on the last pair.
Otostigminae is a large subfamily of centipedes, containing nearly half of all species in the family Scolopendridae. Members of this subfamily are abundant and widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, mostly in Africa, Asia, and Australia.
