# Soil Centipedes (*geophilomorpha*)

Soil centipedes are long, wiggly creatures that love to dig in the dirt! They have many legs and are great at helping the soil stay healthy by breaking down dead plants and animals.

- **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** They live in moist soil, under leaves, and in decaying wood.
- **Also known as:** Earth Centipede, Ground Centipede, Soil Worm

![Soil Centipedes](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Geophilus_fg01.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Fritz Geller-Grimm, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Geophilus_fg01.JPG)

## Appearance

The Soil Centipedes has a long, slender, flattened body, typically yellowish-brown to reddish-orange. They possess numerous body segments, each with a single pair of legs, making them visually distinct from millipedes.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Chilopoda
- **Order:** Geophilomorpha
- **Family:** Oryidae

## Interesting facts

- If they lose a leg, some soil centipedes can amazingly grow a brand new one!
- No visible eyes, but soil centipedes can still sense light and dark to stay hidden!
- Their tough cuticle protects them from drying out, like a waterproof suit underground!
- Young centipedes hatch with fewer segments and legs, growing more as they get older!

## Special abilities

- **Venomous Strike:** Soil Centipedes can inject venom using modified front legs (forcipules) that helps them paralyze small prey.
- **Subterranean Explorer:** Soil Centipedes has a flexible, segmented body that helps them tunnel rapidly through soil, finding prey and shelter.
- **Chemical Compass:** Soil Centipedes can detect prey and navigate dark tunnels using sensitive antennae that helps them sense vibrations and chemicals.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 2-10
- **Lifespan:** 2-6
- **Segment Count:** 29-191
- **Leg Pairs:** 29-191

## Diet & Feeding

These speedy hunters are carnivores, preying on other small invertebrates in the soil.

- **Primary Foods:** Earthworms, Slugs, Insect larvae, Springtails, Spiders
- **Foraging Method:** Pursuit

## Ecological connections

- **Hunts:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — Actively hunts and consumes these burrowing invertebrates in soil.
- **Eaten by:** [Common Shrew](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-shrew) (*Sorex araneus*) — Small mammals like shrews often prey on centipedes found under logs.
- **Eaten by:** [Common Blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blackbird) (*Turdus merula*) — Birds forage for them when centipedes are exposed on the soil surface.
- **Hunts:** Grey Field Slug (*Deroceras reticulatum*) — Predatory centipedes find and consume slow-moving slugs in damp places.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
- [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.

## Collections

- [Invertebrates](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/invertebrates)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Soil Centipedes?

Compare body symmetry, shells, segments, legs, tentacles and how the animal moves. Invertebrates span many unrelated groups, so start with body structure. Invertebrate Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Soil Centipedes?

2-10

### How long does Soil Centipedes live?

2-6

### What does Soil Centipedes eat?

These speedy hunters are carnivores, preying on other small invertebrates in the soil.

### Where is Soil Centipedes usually found?

They live in moist soil, under leaves, and in decaying wood.

### How does Soil Centipedes hunt?

Pursuit

### How many body segments does Soil Centipedes have?

29-191

### What is the leg Pairs of Soil Centipedes?

29-191

## Where to spot

- [Raglan Road Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/raglan-road-park) — Virginia, US · Park

## More Invertebrate

- [Coral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral)
- [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Mecaphesa asperata*)
- [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*)
- [Brown Recluse Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-recluse-spider) (*Loxosceles reclusa*)

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Source: [Soil Centipedes: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/soil-centipedes)