centipéda

Centipedes are arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda. The name "centipede" literally means "hundred feet" in Greek, although their actual number of legs varies greatly, ranging from 30 to over 300 pairs, but never exactly 100. Each body segment, except for the one behind the head and the two at the rear, bears one pair of legs. This distinct characteristic differentiates them from millipedes, which have two pairs of legs per segment.

Centipedes are predatory and possess a pair of modified legs called forcipules, located just behind their head, which are equipped with venom glands. They use these forcipules to paralyze or kill their prey, which typically consists of insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. Their elongated, segmented bodies are flattened dorsoventrally. Their antennae are long and consist of many segments.

They are found in a wide range of habitats worldwide, preferring moist environments such as under logs, rocks, leaf litter, and in soil. Their activity is generally nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. While centipedes can deliver a painful bite to humans if provoked, their venom is not considered medically significant for most people. Their role in ecosystems is primarily as predators, helping to control populations of other invertebrates.