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THE CHILOPODA


THE CHILOPODA
Photo Information
Copyright: Jan Jasmis (jasmis) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 37 W: 0 N: 18] (161)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-09-08
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon G3
Exposure: f/4, 1/1250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-01-19 8:51
Viewed: 1920
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
THE CHILOPODA, or centipedes, consist of five orders: Geophilomorpha, Scolopendromorpha, Lithobiomorpha and Craterostigmomorpha. The geophilomorphs are elongate, worm-like centipedes which live in the soil and have between 31 to 181 pairs of legs. The scolopendromorphs have 21 or 23 pairs of legs and some tropical forms can reach lengths of up to 26 cm. The lithobiomorphs are short-bodied centipedes with 15 pairs of legs. The scutigeromorphs are also short-bodied centipedes and they have 15 pairs of elongate legs. The craterostigmomorphs show similarities to both the lithobiomorphs and scolopendromorphs.
Centipedes have relatively permeable cuticles and are thus found in moist environments such as in litter or soil and under bark or stones. Centipedes are fast-moving and predators feeding on just about anything they can catch including worms, arthropods, and in the case of large scolopendromorphs, even small vertebrates.
The number of trunk segments ranges from 17 to over 150. All of the segments bear a single pair of appendages except the last two, the genital segment and the anal segment. The first pair of trunk appendages is modified into poison fangs known as forcipules. A large poison gland is present in the forcipule which opens at the well-sclerotized tip of the appendage. The following trunk appendages consist of six segments: coxa, trochanter, prefemur, femure, tibia and tarsus and terminate in a claw. In some cases the tarsus is subdivided and in scutigeromorphs the tarsus is divided into numerous short segments. The appendages insert laterally in the pleural region. The last pair of legs may be modified for sensory or defensive purposes and is not used in locomotion. Posterior to the last leg-bearing segment are four additional segments: an intermediate segment, two genital segments, and the telson. The anterior genital segment bears gonopods and the posterior bears the vulva in females and the penis in males. The telsonic segment has a pair of anal valves which flank the anus.
In centipedes both sexes have unpaired gonads and there is a single genital pore which is located ventrally on the penultimate segment. Centipedes engage in courtship, but do not actually copulate. In many species the male spins a web and deposits a spermatophore into it. The female then works the spermatophore in her genital pore. In the geophilomorph Necrophloeophagus the male and female come together, head to tail, and tap antennae and anal legs. The male then spins a zigzag web of threads across a burrow and deposits a spermatophore in the web. When the female encounters the web, she locates the spermatophore with her antennae and moves over it to pick up the packet.
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Critiques [Translate]

That is a great shot of this little creature. I love how you captured the sharp details on it, very nice macro. The note is a little too long for me (maybe it's just the early hour).
Take care,
Birgit

Hi Jan the note is full of very good information, bits i didnt know about them thanks.
How long in length was this speciemin? our native one is only 50mm long but have seen tropical ones of over 150mm nastey little monsters that can give you a nasty nip.
The image is intresting some good details seen in it, it would of been good to have had the head in the shot. a little more detail could be had in the legs by careful use of the burntool set to a low level and a softedged brush several passes over just the bits that need darkening, you may need to go back and start again,it's a case of trial and error, till it looks right.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-01-20 4:08]

I've never saw this one before. Looks very good with this rocky BG. Good composition, quality and note.

Super zdjęcie. Ja bym chyba sie bała :-))))
Bardzo interesująca notka i oczywiscie świetny pomysł. Też bym chciała pojechać w te rejony, choćby po to żeby pooglądać takie dziwadła ;-)

Composition: ***
Sharpness: **
Color: ***
DOF: ***
POV: ***

Nice shot but it would have been better to get it full. Good note.
TFS.

Jan, Good details seen in your centipede. I think perhaps a smaller aperture would've helped here with your DOF. With this much light, a slower shutter-speed would be fine I think..sometimes ;-)) I understand the subject was probably moving rapidly though?Very comprehensive note. TFS! PTS tommorrow..

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2005-01-23 2:46]

I thisnk this is the first one here on TN, that makes it the best as well :). Jokes aside, this is a very good capture with excellent sharpness and a great composition.

Very well done and thanks for posting

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