Centipedes have a varying number of legs depending on the species. They can have anywhere from 30 to over 300 legs. Each body segment of a centipede has one pair of legs attached to it. Despite their name suggesting otherwise, no centipede has exactly 100 legs. However, their name comes from the Latin word “centum,” which means 100, as early scientists thought they had 100 legs. Centipedes use their legs to move quickly, capture prey, and defend themselves.