Centipede facts

  • Centipedes have between 15 and 150 pairs of legs
  • Centipedes have one pair of legs on each segment.
  • The legs of the first body segment contain toxins, or poisons, and are used to attack and capture prey.
  • The sting of this Thai centipede can be fatal for dogs
  • There are thought to be around 8,000 species of centipede worldwide
  • Centipedes have been spotted inside the Arctic Circle.
  • The centipede can range in size from a few millimetres to 30 cm long.
  • Centipedes are carnivorous
  • Some species of centipede are known to nurse their eggs and baby centipedes
  • The centipede has been found in fossils dating over 400 million years old.
  • All centipedes have very poor eyesight and track their prey through the use of touch.
  • Centipedes can live as long as six years.
  • In some cultures, centipedes are used for treatment of malaria.
  • Centipedes do not copulate. The males deposits a spermatophore for the female to take up.
  • The Amazonian giant centipede is the largest existing species of centipede in the world, reaching over 30 cm (12 in) in length.
  • If a centipede loses a leg it can grow another to replace it.