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centipede
centipede common name for members of a single class, Chilopoda, of the phylum Arthropoda . Centipedes are the most familiar of the myriapodous arthropods, which consist of five groups of arthropods that had a separate origin from other arthropods. Centipedes are widely distributed in temperate and tropical lands, living in the soil or surface litter, and under logs or rocks. The largest species, Scolopendra gigantea, may reach 12 in. (30 cm) in length; many other tropical species are over 6 in. (15 cm) long. Temperate species are usually only about 1 in. (2.5 cm) long. The flattened body is divided into a head and a trunk composed of segments, or somites. The head bears long antennae, jaws, and two pairs of maxillae used for food-handling. Although the name centipede means "hundred-legged," the average is actually about 35 pairs of legs, one pair on each body segment except for the last two, the pregenital and genital segments. The appendages of the trunk's first segment are modified into claws that are equipped with poison glands and are used to kill or stun prey. Larger centipedes can cause a painful bite, but the poison is not powerful enough to cause death in humans. Centipedes are chiefly nocturnal and predominantly carnivorous, feeding on insects or other small arthropods, though the largest species can kill small vertebrates. Sexes are separate, and some species have extensive courtship ceremonies. Members of the orders Lithobiomorpha and Scutigeromorpha have 15 pairs of legs as adults. These centipedes release eggs singly in the soil. Not all of the body segments are present at the time of hatching, and the young add somites and pairs of legs as they molt. Lithobiomorphs are widely distributed in temperate and subtropical regions. The swift scutigeromorphs have very long legs; the last pair is often extended to the rear, serving as posterior tactile appendages. Although especially abundant in the tropics, they include Scutigera forceps, the rather common house centipede of temperate climates. The house centipede has long, delicate legs and compound eyes. It feeds on roaches, clothes moths, and other insects. Members of the orders Geophilomorpha and Scolopendromorpha produce clusters of eggs, which are guarded while they develop. A full set of body segments and legs is present at hatching. Geophilomorphs have very long, slender bodies with from 31 to over 180 pairs of short legs. They are burrowing forms and are found in the soil from temperate to tropical regions. The scolopendromorphs are also widely distributed, but are more abundant in the tropics. They have from 21 to 23 pairs of legs and include the largest and most colorful centipede species. |
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"centipede." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "centipede." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-centiped.html "centipede." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-centiped.html |
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Chilopoda
Chilopoda (centipedes; phylum Arthropoda, subphylum Atelocerata) A class of uniramous arthropods that have segmented bodies with one pair of legs to each segment. Some centipedes are adapted to burrowing in soil but most run on the surface. All are believed to be predators. The head bears long antennae and beneath the mouth-parts there is a large pair of claws (maxillipeds, forming part of the first body segment) that inject poison. Below the mandibles a pair of maxillae forms a functional lip, overlain by a second pair of maxillae. The name, Chilopoda, is derived from the Greek cheilos, lip, and pod-, foot. There are about 3000 species, found world-wide, and grouped in two subclasses (Epimorpha and Anamorpha) and four principal orders: Geophilomorpha; Scolopendromorpha; Lithobiomorpha; and Scutigeromorpha.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Chilopoda." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "Chilopoda." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Chilopoda.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "Chilopoda." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Chilopoda.html |
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Chilopoda
Chilopoda A class of wormlike terrestrial arthropods belonging to the phylum Uniramia and comprising the centipedes. These are characterized by a distinct head, bearing a single pair of relatively long antennae and one pair of poison jaws, and 15–177 body segments, each bearing one pair of similar legs. Centipedes are fast-moving predators found in damp environments. See also Myriapoda.
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"Chilopoda." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Chilopoda." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-Chilopoda.html "Chilopoda." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-Chilopoda.html |
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centipede
centipede (lit. hundred-legged) Common name for many arthropods of the class Chilopoda. Found in warm and temperate regions, they have flattened, segmented bodies. Most centipedes have about 70 legs (one pair per segment). Many tropical species are 15–30cm (6–12in) long; temperate ones are about 2.5cm (1in). Fast-moving predators, they eat small insects and other invertebrates.
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"centipede." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "centipede." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-centipede.html "centipede." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-centipede.html |
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centipede
cen·ti·pede / ˈsentəˌpēd/ • n. a predatory myriapod invertebrate (class Chilopoda, several orders) with a flattened elongated body composed of many segments. Most segments bear a single pair of legs. |
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"centipede." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "centipede." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-centipede.html "centipede." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-centipede.html |
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centipedes
centipedes See Chilopoda.
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Cite this article
"centipedes." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "centipedes." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-centipedes.html "centipedes." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-centipedes.html |
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centipedes
centipedes See CHILOPODA.
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Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "centipedes." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "centipedes." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-centipedes.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "centipedes." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-centipedes.html |
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centipede
centipede
•accede, bead, Bede, bleed, breed, cede, concede, creed, deed, Eid, exceed, feed, Gide, God speed, greed, he'd, heed, impede, interbreed, intercede, Jamshid, knead, lead, mead, Mede, meed, misdeed, mislead, misread, need, plead, proceed, read, rede, reed, Reid, retrocede, screed, secede, seed, she'd, speed, stampede, steed, succeed, supersede, Swede, tweed, weak-kneed, we'd, weed
•breastfeed • greenfeed • dripfeed
•chickenfeed • spoonfeed • nosebleed
•Nibelungenlied • invalid • Ganymede
•Runnymede • airspeed • millipede
•velocipede • centipede • Siegfried
•filigreed • copyread • crossbreed
•proofread • flaxseed • hayseed
•rapeseed • linseed • pumpkinseed
•aniseed • oilseed • birdseed • ragweed
•knapweed • seaweed • chickweed
•stinkweed • blanket weed • bindweed
•pondweed • duckweed • tumbleweed
•fireweed • waterweed • silverweed
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Cite this article
"centipede." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "centipede." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-centipede.html "centipede." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-centipede.html |
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