Abstract

Ethological studies in the field of arthropods have addressed various perspectives, although specific knowledge related to chilopods has been notably limited. This work addresses this gap through exhaustive research carried out in the town of Barú, Colombia. It focuses on the behavior of a chilopod belonging to the genus Otostigmus (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Scolopendridae), revealing a response mechanism against threats: the simulation of being dead. This tactic, identified as tonic immobility or thanatosis, constitutes a novel finding in the behavior of chilopods, enriching our understanding of the defensive strategies adopted by these arthropods. Through field observation, we document the process by which the chilopod exhibits this behavior in situations of perceived danger. This contribution not only expands our knowledge of chilopod ethology, but also highlights the importance of the diversity of behavorial responses in these organisms, underlining the complexity of their interactions with the environment.