The Incredible Centipedes Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hundred legged

Centipedes are invertebrates, belonging to the phylum Arthropoda which consists of all invertebrates with jointed legs (arthr = joint and pedis = feet). The name comes from the Latin words centi and pedis which serve as the root words for many English words such as centimetre, centilitre, centurion, cent, pedestrian, expedition, impede etc.

Despite the name, centipedes have varying number of legs, the common house centipede has about 30 while a specie found in the Amazon has up over a hundred. Centipedes are metamerically segmented (have well divided segments) and normally have an odd number of legs on each of its sides making it difficult to find one that actually has 100 legs.

Answer: Myriapods

Despite their resemblance and similarities, centipedes are actually myriapods and not insects. Though insects, arachnids, crustaceans and myriapods belong to a group (phylum) known as Arthropoda which consists of invertebrates with jointed appendages and hard exoskeletons made of chitin.

The major difference between the two is that myriapods have far more legs and segments than insects. There are about 15000 species of myriapods most notably the centipedes, millipedes, pauropods and symphylans. The name actually means; ten thousand legs. Myriapods can be further divided mainly into chilopods (centipedes) and diplopods (millipedes), the two main myriapods.

They grow by molting. Each time they molt, they grow new segments with new pairs of legs. Echinoderms are another phylum consisting of starfish and their relatives. Centipedes are very caring parents.

They protect their eggs even till after they hatch. Credit them for the fact that they are NOT facing the danger of extinction.

Answer: Chilopodophobic

Chilopodophobia comes from the order to which centipedes belong (chilopoda) and the Greek word phobos which means fear. It is no wonder that many fear this myriapod. If you have seen one before, you will agree with me that it looks really scary with its legs splaying out from the side and a really big pair of tentacles on its head. If you have spotted it running, you will be of the opinion that it scurries really fast for an invertebrate so small and long.

It may interest you that centipedes do not go through direct copulation when mating.

Instead, the male produces spermatophore which the female takes up. They lay their eggs in the ground, or when that is not an option, anywhere they will be very well sheltered.

Answer: Yes

Centipedes have venom glands located on their forciples. The venom may not be enough to cause damage to humans, although, the venom of some species found in the Philippines may be fatal to children. Some people may experience allergic reactions after being bitten by a centipede.

They don't bite for the fun of it but only when threatened, and those bites are painful! The forciples are legs in the front segments that may serve as tentacles and contain the venom glands. They are used for clutching prey and injecting venom into them.

This means that centipedes don't actually bite, they inject venom.

Answer: Scolopendra

The Amazonian giant centipede (Scolopendra gigantea), also known as the Peruvian yellow legged centipede, is the largest member of the scolopendras and thus, the largest centipede in the world. A full grown one can measure up to a foot (twelve inches or 30cm) and has about 23 segments (therefore 46 legs).

They are large enough to deviate from the normal centipede diet of insects or worms and prey on tiny birds or rodents. Some species were even discovered to cling to the roof of caves in order to catch and feed on unsuspecting bats.

Answer: New York

Hoffman's dwarf centipede (Nannarrup hoffmani) is the world's smallest centipede and was discovered in 2002 by some researchers, most notably Liz Johnson. This species of centipedes measures about 10.3mm (1.03cm) for full grown adults (about 0.4 inches).

The adults have 41 segments (82 legs), more than Scolopendra gigantea. They were, surprisingly, discovered in the bustling city of New York. Scientists reckon that they did not originate in New York and might have been brought by planes from Asia.

They were named after Dr. Richard L. Hoffman of the Virginia Museum of Natural History for his role in identifying these centipedes.

Answer: 350+

Himantarium gabrielis, native to southern Europe, is the centipede with the most legs. Centipedes have only a pair of legs per segment, unlike millipedes who have two per segment. A full H. gabrielis normally has 177 segments, which gives us a total number of 354 legs.

The millipede with the most legs, Illacme plenipes however, has around 750. Neither centi- nor millipede live up to their name as centipedes never have 100 legs and millipedes are 250 shy of a thousand legs.

Answer: True

Although they are of the same kingdom, phylum and class, millipedes and centipedes have a lot of well defined differences. Some major differences between the two include:

Centipedes have a flatter body compared to the the roundish (subcylindrical) shape of the millipede. Centipedes have a single pair of legs that project from the sides of each segment while millipedes have two pairs of legs that are directly under each segment. Millipedes curl up when they are threatened while centipedes prefer to bite and make a run for it.

Answer: Carnivorous

Centipedes are adapted to carnivorous means of nutrition. Their cuisine is usually made up of insects or worms and other small invertebrates. They paralyze their victims with their venom and eat them. Their cousins, the millipedes, are detritivorous, they feed on decaying matter or the roots and seedlings of plants. Larger centipedes may feed on vertebrates like small rodents or bats as in the case of the Amazonian giant centipede.

Answer: Centipede racing, like snail races, are a form of recreation

Centipedes prove to be helpful in the home, because, like lizards, they feed on common household pests. The presence of centipedes may not be all fun and games since it also means that there are enough pests present in the house for them to feast on. Unlike millipedes, they are not harmful to gardens since they do not feed on plants.

In fact, they feed on insects that may harm crops. Their burrowing also aerates the soil, allowing enough air and nutrients to flow to the roots of plants. Centipedes can be used as food once their head and forciples are removed, although this is not completely advisable. Raw centipedes may contain parasites that damage the brain. Dried and/or powdered centipedes are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Centipede racing does not exist.