<P> Some of the plates covering the body segments fused and became smaller during the evolution to the current state of S. coleoptrata . The resulting mismatch between body segments and dorsal plates (tergites) is the cause for this centipede's rigid body . </P> <Table> Relation between body segments, dorsal plates (tergites), and leg pairs <Tr> <Th> Tergite </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> 5 </Th> <Th> 6 </Th> <Th> 7 </Th> <Th> 8 </Th> <Th> 9 </Th> <Th> 10 </Th> <Th> 11 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Segments </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3, 4 </Td> <Td> 5, 6 </Td> <Td> 7, 8, 9 </Td> <Td> 10, 11 </Td> <Td> 12, 13 </Td> <Td> 14, 15 </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 18 (telson) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Leg pairs </Th> <Td> Forcipules </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2, 3 </Td> <Td> 4, 5 </Td> <Td> 6, 7, 8 </Td> <Td> 9, 10 </Td> <Td> 11, 12 </Td> <Td> 13, 14 </Td> <Td> 15 (antenna - like snare legs) </Td> <Td> (gonopod) </Td> <Td> (anus) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Tergite </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> 5 </Th> <Th> 6 </Th> <Th> 7 </Th> <Th> 8 </Th> <Th> 9 </Th> <Th> 10 </Th> <Th> 11 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Segments </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3, 4 </Td> <Td> 5, 6 </Td> <Td> 7, 8, 9 </Td> <Td> 10, 11 </Td> <Td> 12, 13 </Td> <Td> 14, 15 </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 18 (telson) </Td> </Tr>

Insect that looks like a centipede with long legs