FAUNA Paraguay Gallery of Centipede (Chilopoda) Images

Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law. Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay. Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, Rebbeca Zarza, José Luis Cartes and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
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Elongated and dorsally-flattened. Head with two pairs of maxillae and trunk with an odd number of leg-bearing segments, the final two segments - the pregenital and genital respectively - lack legs. The first pair of limbs are modified into claw-like fangs containing poison glands. All legs are similar but they sometimes increase in length posteriorly. Most species have a large number of lateral ocelli forming compound eyes only in the order Scutigerida. Centipedes are nocturnal carnivores. Some species are subterranean, locating the prey with antennae. Sperm transfer is via a spermatophore which is transferred after a period of complex courtship behaviour. Several species guard the eggs and some even protect the young after hatching. Young hatch with the same number or only slightly less segments than the adults.

We are just beginning with the study of invertebrates in Paraguay and will soon start an extensive inventory of the centipedes. We do however desperately need the assistance of an expert willing to help us identify the images - obviously we understand that identification to species level will not always be possible from a photograph, but if you are willing to give it a go please contact us!
FIGURE 1

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1 - Unidentified sp. (Order Scolopendrida) - PN Tte Enciso,  Departamento Boquerón (Hugo del Castillo May 2008).