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Ultimate legs are a pair of modified rear legs unique to
centipede
Centipedes (from New Latin , "hundred", and Latin , " foot") are predatory arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda (Ancient Greek , ''kheilos'', lip, and New Latin suffix , "foot", describing the forcipules) of the subphylum Myriapoda, an ...
s. Although they do not aid in locomotion, ultimate legs are used for a variety of uses, and their morphology varies accordingly.
Sexual dimorphism is frequently present.
Usage
As a defence against predators
In many species, ultimate legs are used in warning postures to scare of predators. The ultimate legs are raised, splayed, and sometimes waved back and forth. The presence of spines on the ultimate legs of some species also serves a defensive role- as Lewis & Kronmüller (2015) put it, "a predator approaching from behind would come into contact with a battery of spines."
For suspension
Some species use their ultimate legs to hang or anchor themselves from trees or other desired objects. This has been recorded as playing a role in predation; the centipede suspends itself in the air and swings back and forth to capture prey.In contact with other centipedes
Before mating, many species of Scolopendrid centipedes interlock ultimate legs. A similar behaviour has been recorded in ordinary meetings, wherein each centipede grasps the other's trunk with its ultimate legs. This possibly serves as a way to defuse aggression, and in some species may be held for several minutes. During mating, ''Scutigera coleoptrata
''Scutigera coleoptrata'', also known as the house centipede, is a species of centipede that is typically yellowish-grey and has up to 15 pairs of long legs. Originating in the Mediterranean region, it has spread to other parts of the world, whe ...
'' raise and lower their ultimate legs, along with their antennae.
As a means of sound production
Members of the genus '' Alipes''stridulate
Stridulation is the act of producing sound by rubbing together certain body parts. This behavior is mostly associated with insects, but other animals are known to do this as well, such as a number of species of fish, snakes and spiders. The mech ...
their leaf-like ultimate legs, probably as a way to warn off predators. The legs continue to stridulate for up to half a minute if detached from the centipede.
The ultimate legs of '' Rhysida immarginata togoensis'' emit a faint creaking or squeaking sound when detached and bent.
References
{{Reflist Myriapod anatomy Centipedes