Deep Look

Early Access - House Centipedes!

Added 2018-09-21 16:01:01 +0000 UTC

Voracious, venomous and hella leggy, house centipedes are masterful predators with a knack for fancy footwork. But not all their legs are made for walking, they put some to work in other surprising ways.

Recognizable for their striking (some might say, repulsive) starburst-like shape, house centipedes have far fewer than the 100 legs their name suggests. They’re born with a modest eight, a count that grows to 30 as they reach adulthood.

If 30 legs sound like more than one critter really needs – perhaps it is. Over the last 450 million years or so, when centipedes split off from other arthropods, evolution has turned some of those walking limbs into other useful and versatile tools.

Hi there, we hope you enjoy a first look at our newest episode! You can start sharing it out if you like on 9/25, Tuesday morning.

What unexpected (non-human) creatures have you found lurking in your home, apartment, garage, or even your car? Anything dangerous? Venomous? Let us know in the comments below.