Venom evolution in centipedes

Animal venoms are a significant source for pharmacological discovery. Prey predator evolutionary arms race has played a key role in venom evolution. Arthropod venoms have evolved for predation and defence, and contain many bioactive compounds. However, compared to snakes or cone snails, studies documenting venom diversity and evolution in venomous terrestrial predatory arthropods, like centipedes, are few.

The project aims to evaluate the role of venom and the diet in the speciation of scolopendrid centipedes using ecological speciation theory in a multidisciplinary framework.