An Annotated Catalog of Centipedes (Chilopoda) From the United States of America, Canada and Greenland (1758–2008)

About the Book

Centipedes are top of the food chain invertebrate predators that form an integral part of ecosystems worldwide. Amazingly, they link the vertebrate and invertebrate worlds through the food web. Unfortunately, habitat destruction and alteration through floral and faunal introductions continue to imperil native microhabitat specialists such as centipedes. There has never been a greater time or need for scientists of different disciplinary backgrounds to cooperate on unraveling the complex mechanisms of ecosystems. Centipedes hold secrets of bioluminescence; chemical defenses, photoreception and much more that we have only begun to comprehend. We desperately need systematists, biologists, ecologists, molecular biologists, microscopists, biochemists and others to coordinate studies that advance our knowledge of centipedes. It is the author’s intent for this catalog to serve as a tool in achieving these goals through studying one of the most under admired yet incredible creatures that has roamed the earth for over 400 million years.

About the Author

Randy Mercurio obtained a B.A. in Biology from New York University. He worked for the American Museum of Natural History for over four years as a Scientific Assistant in the Department of Entomology where he primarily worked on scorpions. In his spare time from 2002 to 2009 he studied centipedes and compiled this catalog. Randy’s interests also include many outdoor activities such as nature photography, hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing as well as primitive technology and survival skills. He is currently an ICP-MS analytical chemist for Eastern Research Group, Inc. in North Carolina where he tests environmental air samples for toxic metals.