 
Centipedes
Centipedes belong to the phylum Arthropoda (jointed-legged animals including crustaceans, insects and spiders). Centipedes comprise the class Chilopoda, and are grouped with millipedes and two minor groups (Symphyla and Pauropoda) in the subphylum Myriapoda.
Characteristics of centipedes
- body divided into head with one pair of antennae and trunk with 15 - 191 pairs of legs
- trunk segments all similar except for first pair, which is incorporated into head, modified as fangs with a poison gland
- almost exclusively predatory, mostly fast moving and aggressive
Research
Research interests include the position of centipedes and other myriapods within the Arthropoda, the evolutionary history of higher-level groups of centipedes, the relationships of “stone centipedes” (order Lithobiomorpha) especially southern hemisphere (Gondwanan) species, and the taxonomy and historical biogeography of Australian Lithobiomorpha.
Projects
Collections
Centipedes and other myriapods are curated with the Arachnology collections. The collection comprises approximately 2 500 registered lots, of which more than half are centipedes. The centipede collection is primarily from New South Wales, with Lithobiomorpha and Scolopendromorpha particularly well represented. The type DNA voucher collection mostly consists of Lithobiomorpha.
Staff
Greg Edgecombe (Principal
Research Scientist)
Graham Milledge (Collection Supervisor)
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