Giant Redheaded Centipedes Are Venom Mixologists

Giant Redheaded Centipedes Are Venom Mixologists

A giant centipede’s many wriggling legs might be creepy. But the pair of legs not used for walking may be the most frightening. Over 430 million years ago, the two legs nearest the mouth evolved into sharp pincers that contain venom glands. Within those glands are microscopic factories capable of manufacturing multiple toxic compounds. Arthropods, just like spiders, giant centipedes use these tools to hunt prey — everything from crickets to snak…