Iulia Barutia

Research Interest

The house centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata, is one of the fastest invertebrate predators. Endemic to the mediterranean region, this species is nowadays common throughout central Europe and North America. Scutigeromorph centipedes are generally characterized by extremely elongated appendages. Their antennae and ultimate legs are longer than their body and are covered with thousands of sensory structures. The functional transformation of the last pair of legs, called the ultimate legs, is unique to centipedes. The ultimate legs are never involved in locomotion, and in scutigeromorph centipedes it is hypothesized that they serve a predominantly sensory function.

Previously, my research concerned anamorphic leg development and the remarkable ability of house centipedes to lose and regenerate their legs. Currently, I am investigating their ability to sense with their ultimate legs, to shed light on the functional transformation of those appendages, through means of morphological and electrophysiological methods. Moreover, we are interested in the kinematics of their locomotion, and are working on deciphering the locomotory pattern which allows these animals to be so fast.