10 Interesting Facts About This Animal:
1. The only arthropods known to have "poison claws" for subduing prey. The legs of this animal's first segment are not for walking. Instead, they're modified to form venomous fangs, which they use to inject paralyzing venom into prey. These special appendages are known as forcipules,
2. They do not have 100 legs.Though their common name means "one hundred legs," they can have significantly less or more than 100 legs. Depending on the species, this animal can have as few as 15 pairs of legs, or as many as 171 pairs. Regardless of the species, this creepy crawly always has an odd number of leg pairs, so it never has exactly 100 legs (because 50 pairs is an even number).
3. This animal always has one pair of legs per body segment. This is the easiest way to differentiate between this animal and it's cousin which has two pairs of legs on most body segments.
4. They are predators. Though some will occasionally scavenge a meal, they are primarily hunters. Smaller species will catch other invertebrates, including insects, mollusks, annelids, and even others of their own species. The larger species, which inhabit the tropics, can consume frogs or even small birds. They will usually wrap around the prey and wait for the venom to take effect before consuming the meal.
5. They can live for several years. It's not unusual for this animal to live 2-3 years, and some survive longer than 5 years. They continue to molt and grow as adults, unlike insects, which complete their growth when they reach adulthood.
6. They can regenerate lost legs. Should this animal find itself in the grip of a bird or other predator, it can often escape by sacrificing a few legs. Since the animal continues to molt as adults, they can usually repair the damage by simply regenerating legs. If you find one of these with a few legs that are shorter than the others, it's likely in the process of recovering from a predator attack.
7. Some care for their young. You probably wouldn't expect this animal to be a good mother, but a surprising number of them dote on their offspring. . The mother wraps her body around the eggs, and remains with them until they hatch, protecting them from harm.
8. Most are built for speed. With the exception of the slow-moving soil species, which are built to burrow, Chilopods can run fast! Its body is suspended in a cradle between long legs. When those legs start moving, this gives the animal more maneuverability over and around obstacles, as it flees predators or chases prey.
9. Some add leg pairs as they develop. Though many hatch from their eggs with a full complement of leg pairs, certain kinds of Chilopods start life with less legs than their parents.
10. They are prone to dehydration. Arthropods often have a waxy coating on the cuticle to help prevent water loss, but these animals lack this waterproofing. Most live in moist environments, like under leaf litter or in damp, rotting wood. Those that inhabit deserts or other arid environments will often modify their behavior to minimize the risk of dehydration. They may delay activity until seasonal rains arrive, or when the humidity rises.