Questions about Chilopoda (centipedes)
Multiple-Choice Questions on Chilopoda (Animal Kingdom)
1. Chilopoda is a class within which phylum?
A) Mollusca
B) Annelida
C) Arthropoda
D) Echinodermata
E) Cnidaria
2. What is the common name for members of the class Chilopoda?
A) Millipedes
B) Earthworms
C) Centipedes
D) Slugs
E) Scorpions
3. What type of body symmetry do chilopods exhibit?
A) Radial
B) Bilateral
C) Asymmetrical
D) Spherical
E) Spiral
4. How many pairs of legs are found on each body segment of a centipede?
A) 2
B) 4
C) 1
D) 3
E) None
5. Which of the following is not a characteristic of chilopods?
A) Jointed appendages
B) Chitinous exoskeleton
C) Two pairs of legs per segment
D) Carnivorous diet
E) Antennae
6. Where are the venom claws (forcipules) of centipedes located?
A) On the last body segment
B) On the antennae
C) On the underside of the head
D) On the tail
E) On the dorsal plate
7. What is the function of forcipules in centipedes?
A) Digestion
B) Breathing
C) Reproduction
D) Injecting venom
E) Locomotion
8. How do centipedes breathe?
A) Through lungs
B) Through gills
C) Through their skin
D) Through spiracles connected to tracheae
E) Through book lungs
9. Which of the following best describes the diet of chilopods?
A) Herbivorous
B) Omnivorous
C) Carnivorous
D) Detritivorous
E) Photosynthetic
10. Centipedes are most active during:
A) The daytime
B) The winter
C) Rainstorms
D) The night (nocturnal)
E) High noon
11. Which of these organisms is most closely related to Chilopoda?
A) Annelid worms
B) Mollusks
C) Insects
D) Flatworms
E) Cnidarians
12. What type of habitat do centipedes typically prefer?
A) Dry deserts
B) Open grasslands
C) Freshwater lakes
D) Dark, moist environments
E) Coral reefs
13. What distinguishes centipedes from millipedes?
A) Centipedes have two pairs of legs per segment
B) Millipedes are carnivores
C) Centipedes have one pair of legs per segment and are predators
D) Millipedes have venomous claws
E) Centipedes are slow herbivores
14. Chilopods have how many pairs of antennae?
A) None
B) One
C) Two
D) Three
E) Four
15. Which body region of a centipede contains most of the legs?
A) Cephalothorax
B) Abdomen
C) Thorax
D) Trunk
E) Head
16. What is the function of the last pair of legs in some centipedes?
A) Hearing
B) Jumping
C) Reproduction
D) Sensory detection or defense
E) Egg-laying
17. How many eyes do most centipedes have?
A) None
B) Two compound eyes
C) Two simple eyes
D) Many simple eyes
E) Four compound eyes
18. What is a common defense mechanism used by centipedes?
A) Playing dead
B) Spraying acid
C) Rolling into a ball
D) Rapid movement and venomous bite
E) Camouflage using leaves
19. Which of the following describes the reproductive system of centipedes?
A) External fertilization in water
B) Budding
C) Hermaphroditic
D) Internal fertilization via spermatophore
E) Parthenogenesis only
20. What is the main ecological role of centipedes?
A) Decomposers
B) Seed dispersers
C) Predators of small animals and insects
D) Parasites
E) Pollinators
Answers with Explanations
1. C) Arthropoda
Chilopoda belong to the phylum Arthropoda, which includes joint-legged animals.
2. C) Centipedes
Chilopods are commonly known as centipedes.
3. B) Bilateral
Like most arthropods, centipedes have bilateral symmetry.
4. C) 1
Each body segment of a centipede typically has one pair of legs.
5. C) Two pairs of legs per segment
That is characteristic of millipedes (Diplopoda), not centipedes.
6. C) On the underside of the head
Forcipules are modified front legs beneath the head used to inject venom.
7. D) Injecting venom
Forcipules function as venomous fangs for subduing prey.
8. D) Through spiracles connected to tracheae
Centipedes breathe through spiracles and a tracheal system.
9. C) Carnivorous
Centipedes are active hunters, feeding on insects and small animals.
10. D) The night (nocturnal)
Most centipedes are nocturnal predators.
11. C) Insects
Insects are also arthropods and are more closely related to centipedes than annelids or mollusks.
12. D) Dark, moist environments
Centipedes prefer moist environments like under logs, leaf litter, and soil.
13. C) Centipedes have one pair of legs per segment and are predators
This is the key distinction between centipedes and millipedes.
14. B) One
Centipedes have one pair of long, segmented antennae.
15. D) Trunk
The trunk (the main body) contains the segmented parts with legs.
16. D) Sensory detection or defense
The last pair of legs can act as sensory organs or be used in defense.
17. D) Many simple eyes
Many species have multiple simple eyes (ocelli), though some are blind.
18. D) Rapid movement and venomous bite
Their speed and venomous forcipules make them effective predators and escape artists.
19. D) Internal fertilization via spermatophore
Males deposit a spermatophore which females take up for internal fertilization.
20. C) Predators of small animals and insects
Centipedes play an important role as predators in soil ecosystems.
Practical Classroom Applications
- Compare centipedes with millipedes and insects in arthropod classification activities.
- Explore predator adaptations related to movement and feeding behavior.
- Discuss ecological roles of centipedes in terrestrial ecosystems.
- Apply biodiversity concepts in environmental science lessons.
- Use anatomy and classification questions to reinforce zoology vocabulary.
- Create classroom discussions about food chains and ecosystem balance.
- Develop critical thinking through taxonomy and adaptation exercises.
- Use the material for biology reviews, STEM projects, and assessments.
Share Social !
