Centipede, << SEHN tuh peed, >> is any of a group of animals that resemble caterpillars. The narrow bodies of centipedes are divided into many segments (sections) that lie behind each other. Each section has two legs. Some centipedes have only 15 pairs of legs, while others have more than 180 pairs.
A centipede’s head includes two antennae (jointed feelers) and a pair of jaws. The first pair of legs behind the head are modified into fangs. Centipedes use these fangs for defense or capturing prey, but not for walking. The fangs are called poison claws because a gland in the head fills them with poison. Centipedes hunt at night, usually for mollusks, worms, and insects. The bite of some centipedes can be dangerous to human beings.
There are thousands of kinds of centipedes. The giant desert centipede of southern North America can grow to about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long. It may kill and eat such animals as mice or small lizards. Its bite is painful to people, but not usually fatal.
