Kettle, C. S.; Arthur, W.: Centipede embryology: conservation and change in early development within the Chilopoda and comparisons with other arthropods

Centipedes provide a good opportunity to study the evolution of segmentation, because (a) different orders of centipedes have different numbers of segments and (b) within one order, Geophilomorpha, there is also intraspecific variation in this character. However, progress in comparative studies has been hindered by a lack of basic information about embryonic development in most centipede groups. Here, we describe the embryology of a geophilomorph centipede, and confirm that its development is epimorphic – that is, the full complement of segments is complete before hatching.This is a derived feature within the Chilopoda, shared only with the sister-group Scolopendromorpha. It is convergent with the well-known epimorphic system of Drosophila.