Does a centipede have an even, odd, or random number of leg segments?

Centipedes are elongated metameric creatures with a pair of legs per body segment. Despite the name, which consists of Latin words centi- (meaning "hundred") and pedis (meaning "foot") , centipedes usually have a varying number of legs, ranging from 30 to 354. They always have an odd number of pairs of legs. As 50 is an even number, centipedes can't actually have exactly 100 legs. Sometimes leg pairs are added in the process of their development. A distinguishing feature of all centipedes is a pair of venom claws or forcipules (pincer-like forelegs) formed from a modified first appendage. Most of them are predators. Centipedes sometimes lose their legs during a fight or to escape it and then regenerate them.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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51 Comments

Erick Bills

If a centipede has a pair of leg segments on each body segment, then does it not stand to reason that a centipede would always have an even number of leg segments?

Janice Hillman

If a centipede has a pair of legs for each body segment, the answer would have to be even. Even the examples given of 30 to 354 legs are even numbers.

Cheryl Maxwell

Erick Bills, my thoughts exactly!

Ron Gosling

teacherchicky, random could mean even so wrong.

Ron Gosling

Marilyn Mumper Fisher, but not even amount of pairs. As was the question

Marilyn Mumper Fisher

I agree with eric. A centipede may always have and odd number of BODY SEGMENTS, but since it has 2 legs /body segment, it always has to have an EVEN number of LEG segments.

teacherchicky

Both odd AND random number of legs, so this answer is incorrect! Look it up!

Player

Their name is misleading.

Pat Salloum

Mr Google says, "Despite the name, centipedes can have a varying number of legs, ranging from 30 to 382. Centipedes always have an odd number of pairs of legs; no centipede has exactly 100 legs."

earlepg

The answer to this question is clearly stated in the authors description at lines 7 & 8. It says "They always have an odd number of pairs (read: segments) of legs." The question isn't asking for the total number of legs, which is obviously even and is therefore also not random.