The term centipede is an ARTHROPOD, which is a type of MYRIAPOD. Myriapods are a group of animals that have many legs, and arthropods are invertebrates with jointed appendages and an exoskeleton. Centipedes are a type of ARTHROPOD that have long, segmented bodies with one pair of legs per segment. They are predatory animals that feed on other insects and small animals. Centipedes are found in many parts of the world and can range in size from a few millimeters to over 30 centimeters in length.