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Tachykinins and tachykinin‐related peptides (TKRPs) play major roles in signaling in the nervous system and intestine of both invertebrates and vertebrates. Here we have identified cDNAs encoding precursors of multiple TKRPs from the cockroaches Leucophaea maderae and Periplaneta americana. All nine LemTKRPs that had been chemically isolated in earlier experiments could be identified on the precursor of L. maderae. Four previously unidentified LemTKRPs were found in addition on the precursor. The P. americana cDNA displayed an open reading frame very similar to that of L. maderae with 13 different TKRPs. MALDI‐TOF mass spectra from tissues of both species confirms the presence of all the TKRPs encoded on the precursor plus two additional peptides that are cleavage products of the N‐terminally extended TKRPs. A tissue‐specific distribution of TKRPs was observed in earlier experiments …