gady-i-płazy: Centipede

Evidence: 100 • authority: 72

Centipedes (from Neo-Latin centi- 'hundred' and Latin pes, pedis 'foot') are predatory arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda of the subphylum Myriapoda, an arthropod group which includes millipedes and other multi-legged animals. Centipedes are elongated segmented (metameric) animals with one pair of legs per body segment. All centipedes are venomous and can inflict painful stings, injecting their venom through pincer-like appendages known as forcipules or toxicognaths, which are actually modified front legs instead of fangs. Despite the name, no species of centipede has exactly 100 legs; the number of pairs of legs is an odd number that ranges from 15 pairs to 191 pairs. Less common…

Evidence: 61 • authority: 72

Numerous animal species naturally produce chemical toxins which are used to kill or incapacitate prey or as a defense against predators. Venomous animals actively deliver their toxins (called venom) into their target through a specially designed mechanism, such as a bite or sting, by using a venom apparatus, such as fangs or a stinger, in a processes called envenomation. They are often distinguished from poisonous animals, which instead passively deliver their toxins (called poison) to their victims upon contact such as through inhalation, absorption through the skin, or after being ingested. The only difference between venomous animals and poisonous animals is how they deliver the toxins.…

Evidence: 61 • authority: 72

Forcipules are the modified, pincer-like front legs of centipedes that are used to inject venom into prey. They are the only known examples of front legs acting as venom injectors.

Evidence: 51 • authority: 72

Scorpions (order Scorpiones) are predatory arachnids with eight legs, a pair of grasping pincers (or chelae) and a narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back and always ending with a stinger. The evolutionary history of scorpions goes back to the Silurian Period, approximately 430 million years ago. They mainly live in deserts but have adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions, and can be found on all continents except Antarctica. There are over 2,500 described species, with 22 extant (living) families recognized to date. Their taxonomy is being revised to account for 21st-century genomic studies. Scorpions primarily prey on insects and o…

Evidence: 45 • authority: 92

Quo vadis venomics? A roadmap to neglected venomous invertebrates.. Venomics research is being revolutionized by the increased use of sensitive -omics techniques to identify venom toxins and their transcripts in both well studied and neglected venomous taxa. The study of neglected venomous taxa is necessary both for understanding the full diversity of venom systems that have evolved in the animal kingdom, and to robustly answer fundamental questions about the biology and evolution of venoms without the distorting effect that can result from the current bias introduced by some heavily studied taxa. In this review we draw the outlines of a roadmap into the diversity of poorly studied and unde…

Evidence: 40 • authority: 92

Regulation of venom composition by the Australian funnel-web spider Hadronyche infensa is achieved via compartmentalised toxin production and venom metering.. The ability to regulate the composition of secreted venom has been demonstrated in an increasing number of taxa, including scorpions, centipedes, and assassin bugs. However, the extent to which this regulation occurs across venomous lineages, and how it is achieved remains largely unknown. Here, we investigate the ability of the lethal Australian funnel-web spider Hadronyche infensa to regulate the biochemical composition of its venom. Using a combination of transcriptome-guided mass spectrometry-based proteomic and peptidomic analyse…

Evidence: 40 • authority: 92

Peptides derived from exocrine secretions of venomous animals used as traditional Chinese "worm" medicines.. The term "worm medicines" (Chong Yao) in Traditional Chinese Medicine encompasses a diverse category of small animal-derived therapeutics, including arthropods, amphibians, and reptiles, rather than strictly vermiform organisms. Many of these animals, such as scorpions, centipedes, toads, and horseflies, are toxic, and have been employed in clinical practice for centuries, despite limited understanding of their active compounds and underlying modes of action. Among the bioactive constituents extracted from these taxa, peptides represent a particularly promising class, with over 2 000…

Evidence: 40 • authority: 72

Venomous snakes are species of the suborder Serpentes that are capable of producing venom, which they use for killing prey, for defense, and to assist with digestion of their prey. The venom is typically delivered by injection using hollow or grooved fangs, although some venomous snakes lack well-developed fangs. Common venomous snakes include the families Elapidae, Viperidae, Atractaspididae, and some of the Colubridae. The toxicity of venom is mainly indicated by murine LD50, while multiple factors are considered to judge the potential danger to humans. Other important factors for risk assessment include the likelihood that a snake will bite, the quantity of venom delivered with the bite,…

Evidence: 40 • authority: 92

The ultimate legs of Chilopoda (Myriapoda): a review on their morphological disparity and functional variability.. The arthropodium is the key innovation of arthropods. Its various modifications are the outcome of multiple evolutionary transformations, and the foundation of nearly endless functional possibilities. In contrast to hexapods, crustaceans, and even chelicerates, the spectrum of evolutionary transformations of myriapod arthropodia is insufficiently documented and rarely scrutinized. Among Myriapoda, Chilopoda (centipedes) are characterized by their venomous forcipules-evolutionarily transformed walking legs of the first trunk segment. In addition, the posterior end of the centipe…

Evidence: 34 • authority: 92

Untangling Colour Diversity: Ecogeographic Patterns in Two <i>Scolopendra</i> Species Revealed by Citizen Science.. In closely related sympatric species with similar ecologies, the adaptive significance of body colour is generally expected to be similar. Here, we explore the evolutionary drivers and maintenance mechanisms behind identical colour variants in two ecologically comparable centipede species. Location: Japan [excluding the Nansei Islands]. Taxon: Centipedes. We collected georeferenced photographic records of Scolopendra mutilans and S. japonica through citizen science, assessed phenotypes (red-legged or yellow-legged) and mapped their distributions. We analysed predat…

Evidence: 34 • authority: 92

Temporal and spatial patterns of arthropod-related mortality in Iran: a nationwide analysis (2016-2023).. Background This research was conducted to assess the arthropod-related mortality in Iran for the period 2016-2023. Methods The information on arthropod-related mortality was collected from the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education. The descriptive analyses and charts were created using R version 3.4. ArcMap GIS 10.8.1 software was utilized to design and produce the study map. Temporal trends were examined using the Mann-Kendall test and Theil-Sen slope estimator, while seasonal patterns were assessed via the Hirsch-Slack modified test, Poisson regression with Fourier terms (t…

Evidence: 34 • authority: 72

"Sea centipede" is a vernacular name that may refer to any of several real, mythological, or cryptozoological marine-dwelling animals, including: Various polychaete worms, especially in the family Nereididae Various marine Isopoda The many-finned sea serpent, or "great sea-centipede", a mythical sea creature True centipedes (class Chilopoda) are venomous, many-legged arthropods, and while no living species are fully marine, several species inhabit the intertidal zone (including beaches and rocky shores), and can tolerate occasional inundation by seawater. These centipedes are primarily in the group Geophilomorpha, commonly known as soil centipedes.