Long out of print and finally available again, this is a comprehensive account of centipede biology providing a critical review of the work covering anatomy, behaviour, reproduction and life history, predators and parasites, physiology, ecology and taxonomy. It is an important source-book of particular value to scientists working directly with this group and to soil ecologists and those more generally interested in arthropods, arthropod affinities and their evolution. This is a book from an internationally respected scientist and includes many first-hand accounts of his own work both on temperate and tropical species.
Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. External morphology and functional anatomy; 3. The integument, moulting and regeneration; 4. The musculature and endoskeleton; 5. The nervous system and sense organs; 6. Sensory responses and related behaviour; 7. Endocrinology; 8. The alimentary canal; 9. The poison glands; 10. Feeding and digestion; 11. The respiratory system; 12. The circulatory system; 13. Pigments; 14. Connective tissue and fat body; 15. Head glands; 16. The Malpighian tubules and nephridia; 17. The reproductive system and reproduction; 18. Post-embryonic development and life history; 19. Epidermal glands and their function, defence and predators; 20. Parasites; 21. Physiology and ecology; 22. Taxonomy; 23. Relationships of the chilopod orders; 24. The classification of the Chilopoda; Bibliography; Index.
'...the beginner and even the advanced student of centipedes may be well advised to purchase this successful introduction. ... More than 560 citations are included, which cover not only English-written studies, but also many written in German, French etc. Thus, the booklet helps the reader not familiar with these languages to learn about valuable results of articles going back to the century before last...' Hartmut Greven, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat-Dusseldorf