ANATOMY OF A CENTIPEDEDorsal view of the head[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Scolopendra Subspinipes De Haani (var. mau chau)
Cephalic plate: Or head plate.
Smooth antennomere: Or densely hirsute antennomere. An antennomere is an antennal segment. The smooth antennomere are covered with (dense) hairs. The number/combination of antennomeres (hirsute and sparsely hirsute) can be used to define the species.
Sparsely hirsute antennomere: Also these antennomere contain hairs, but less then the smooth antennomere (sparsely = not thick or dense). The number/combination of antennomeres (hirsute and sparsely hirsute) can be used to define the species.
Maxillipeds: The paired appendages that are actually modified legs. These are used to inject the venom (defense and attack prey) and to dig or move soil.
Ocelli: The eyes. 4 are found on each side on front of the cephalic plate. They are simple, probably only seeing shadows of light.
2nd mandible: Or 2nd maxilla. These are the second pair of jaws. There are brushes found at the end of the 2nd maxilla that are used for cleaning (legs and antenna's). The second maxilla are also used for handling food.
Dorsal view of head and first tergites[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Scolopendra Angulata
Paramedian sutures of cephalic plate: Suture (~ sulcus) on both sides from the middle of a the cephalic plate. A suture (or sulcus) is an external groove in the body.
Anterior transverse suture: Also named ring furrow. This is a sulcus (~ suture) on tergite 1. A sulcus is a groove formed by an in-folding of the body. This sulcus is only seen in scolopendromorpha from the new world.
Tergite: A dorsal sclerite (a hardened plate into which the exoskeleton is divided) of a segment.
Paramedian sutures of tergites: Suture (~ sulcus) on both sides from the middle of a tergite. A suture (or sulcus) is an external groove in the body. The position and arrangement of sutures on the tergites can be used to define the species.
Antennomere: Antennal segment. Forms together with the smooth antennomeres and the sparsely hirsute anntennomeres the antennae. The antennae are 2 movable sensory appendages at the front of the cephalic plate.
Ventral view of the head[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Scolopendra Angulata
Coxosternite: Or coxosternum. Central abdominal plate of the head.
Coxosternal toothplates: 2 plates on front of the coxosternum with teeth on them, used for chewing prey. The size and configuration of the coxosternal toothplates can be used to define the species.
Coxosternal teeth: Teeth on coxosternal toothplates.
Trochanteroprefemoral processes: A small ridge on the inner-side of the maxillipeds. They look like teeth.
1st mandible: Or 1st maxilla. These are the fist paired jaws. These are used to chew the food.
2nd mandible: Or 2nd maxilla. These are the second paired jaws. There are brushes found at the end of the 2nd maxilla that are used for cleaning (legs and antenna's). The second maxilla are also used for handling food.
Maxillipeds: The paired appendages that are actually modified legs. These are used to inject the venom (contain the venom glands) for defense and attack prey, and to dig or move soil.
Tarsungulum: The claws of the maxillipeds or poison fangs located at the end of the maxillipeds.
Lateral view of the body[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Scolopendra Angulata, inlay: Scolopendra Subspinipes De Haani
Pleurite: The lateral part of a segment.
Spiracle: Holes for taking in oxygen located on the lateral surface of a segment (or pleurite). An external opening of the tracheal system ( trachea = a tube of the respiratory system). Spiracles are located at segments 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20.
Prefemur: First segment of the leg.
Femur: Second segment of the leg between the prefemur and tiba.
Tibia: Third segment of the leg between the femur and tarsus 1.
Tarsus 1: Fourth segment of the leg after the tibia.
Tarsus 2: Fifth segment of the leg.
Pretarsus: Sixth and last segment of the leg or claw.
Ventral view of terminal legs[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Scolopendra Angulata
Sternite: A ventral plate of a segment.
Locomotory legs: Walking legs.
Terminal legs: Last pair of legs. The spinulation of these legs can be used to define the species.
Coxopleuron: The lateral part of the 21st segment. The 21st segment contains the reproduction organs.
Prefemoral spines: Spines on the prefemur of the terminal legs.
Prefemoral process: Process (bulge) on the prefemur of the terminal legs, against the femur. Not all scolopendromorpha species have this process.
Reference: Alan Mommerency - [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:02 pm
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