Centipede

About the Centipede

Despite the name (centi=100), they can have 15-177 pairs of legs - always an odd number. The Amazonian giant centipede reaches 30 cm and can eat bats, mice, and frogs. Their front legs are modified into venomous fangs (forcipules). They are among the oldest terrestrial animals, dating back 430 million years. They are fast-moving nocturnal hunters. Their venom contains serotonin, histamine, and toxin proteins. Over 3,300 species described. They can regenerate lost legs. They are found from deserts to rainforests to caves.