Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Field Notes • Zoology

Centipede

Centipedes are elongated, segmented arthropods in the class Chilopoda.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Centipedes are elongated, segmented arthropods in the class Chilopoda. They are predatory, venomous animals with one pair of legs per body segment, and they are not insects.

What it is

Centipedes are terrestrial myriapods with a pair of antennae and a single pair of legs on each body segment. They are usually flattened and vary in size from a few millimetres to over 30 centimetres. Despite the name, no centipede has exactly 100 legs; the number ranges from about 30 to 382 depending on species and age.

Feeding and venom

Centipedes are active predators that use modified front legs called forcipules to inject venom and immobilize prey. They eat insects, other arthropods, worms, and sometimes other centipedes. While their venom can cause painful stings in humans, serious outcomes are uncommon, and most species avoid people.

Key details

Centipedes are often confused with millipedes, but they differ in several ways. Centipedes have one pair of legs per body segment, flatter bodies, and are faster predators. Millipedes have two pairs of legs per segment and are more cylindrical. Centipedes are also venomous, while millipedes are not.

In short

  • Not insects, but myriapod arthropods.
  • One pair of legs per body segment.
  • All centipedes are venomous predators.
  • Found in Canada, including indoors.
Canadian angle

Centipedes are found in Canada, including in homes, gardens, and natural habitats. Canadian readers may encounter house centipedes indoors; these are generally harmless predators of other small arthropods.[12][15]

Quick questions

How many legs does a centipede have?
Centipedes usually have between 15 and 191 pairs of legs, depending on the species and age; recorded totals range from about 30 to 382 legs.
Are centipedes dangerous?
Most centipedes are not dangerous to humans, but they are venomous and can cause painful bites or stings. Larger species are more likely to cause swelling or stronger reactions.
What is the difference between a centipede and a millipede?
Centipedes usually have one pair of legs per body segment, flatter bodies, and are predators. Millipedes have two pairs of legs per segment and are generally more cylindrical.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centipede
    Supports: General anatomy, venom, leg count range, and centipede-vs-millipede distinction.
  2. Missouri Department of Conservation — https://www.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/centipedes
    Supports: Body form, leg count range, and segment-leg pattern.
  3. Australian Museum — https://www.australian.museum/learn/animals/centipedes/
    Supports: Myriapod classification, leg-pair pattern, and centipede-vs-millipede distinction.
  4. National Park Service — https://www.nps.gov/cato/learn/nature/insects.htm
    Supports: Diet, venom use, human bite effects, and centipede-vs-millipede comparison.
  5. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/centipede
    Supports: General taxonomic description and predatory nature.
  6. Museums Victoria — https://museumsvictoria.com.au/article/do-centipedes-really-have-100-legs/
    Supports: Leg count facts and human bite severity context.
  7. Penn State Extension — https://extension.psu.edu/house-centipedes/
    Supports: House centipede behavior and approximate lifespan.
  8. Iowa State University Extension — https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2006/feb/070301.htm
    Supports: Human interaction, bite likelihood, and severity context.