Body Anatomy
millipedes and centipedes have many segments and show little variation between each segment. They have a single pair of unbranched antennae. They also dont have a waxy exoskeleton.
Class Diplopoda- Millipeds have 2 pairs of legs on each segment except for the last two. The legs are very well adapted for digging and burrowing, however they move very slowly. They have two sets of simple eyes but have poor vision, but they compensate with an excellent sense of smell. They have a maxillae and mandible used for eating. When threatened they curl up into a ball and secrete a noxious gas that contains cyanide.
Class Chilopoda- Typically have 15 to 175 segments and grow up to 30 cm long in tropical environments. Their bodies are flattened and their legs are proportionally longer. The appendages on the first segment are modified into poison claws used for capturing prey. Long antennae and two pairs of simple yes on the head. Very fast nocturnal predators that capture small prey. venom mostly non-lethal to humans.
Class Diplopoda- Millipeds have 2 pairs of legs on each segment except for the last two. The legs are very well adapted for digging and burrowing, however they move very slowly. They have two sets of simple eyes but have poor vision, but they compensate with an excellent sense of smell. They have a maxillae and mandible used for eating. When threatened they curl up into a ball and secrete a noxious gas that contains cyanide.
Class Chilopoda- Typically have 15 to 175 segments and grow up to 30 cm long in tropical environments. Their bodies are flattened and their legs are proportionally longer. The appendages on the first segment are modified into poison claws used for capturing prey. Long antennae and two pairs of simple yes on the head. Very fast nocturnal predators that capture small prey. venom mostly non-lethal to humans.
Habitat, Diet, Life Cycle
Live in damp enviroments--under leaves, rocks, and logs. They eat bugs, worms, plants and decaying plant matter. the majority of detritivous. woth the exception of centipedes who are nocturnal predators. During mating the male produces a packet of sperm and then transfers i the the female. When the eggs hatch they are shortened versions of the adult and have as few as three pairs of legs.
Examples
centipedes and millipedes.