Counting a centipede’s legs is no simple task – and not only because it has lots of them.
For a start, do you count the two elongated, backward-pointing appendages at the rear end?
Well, yes, because these are indeed legs that have been modified for other tasks. In some species, they have assumed a sensory, antenna-like role; in others, they have developed pointy, hardened tips that are wielded defensively.
Things get trickier at the business end. That’s because centipedes are the only animals to have transformed walking legs into venom-injecting fangs.
And very impressive they are, too. The forcipules – to give them their technical name - probably arose from a hunting technique involving grappling prey with the front legs.
These developed a groove along their length for the delivery of venom from a gland at the base to the pointed tips and a cutting edge on the inner curve for butchering prey.
This transformation has played a significant part in centipedes’ formidable predatory prowess.
Please note external videos may contain ads:
The giant Scolopendra centipedes can exceed 30cm in length and can take toads, rodents, birds and snakes. One American cave-dwelling species can even pluck flying bats from the air.
So how many legs does a centipede have? Better get counting.
Main image: Centipedes have modified forelegs called forciples that are capable of injecting venom. © gan chaonan/Getty