Subphylum Myriapoda (millipedes and centipedes)

Characteristics:
i. Their bodies are divided into numerous segments (head, thorax and abdomen), and that
possess numerous pairs of legs.
ii. They have a single pair of antennae and simple eyes.
iii. Myriapods are most abundant in moist forests, where they play an important role in
breaking down decaying plant material.
iv. Myriapods include about 13,000 living species. All of them are terrestrial.
v. The majority are herbivorous, with the exception of centipedes, which are nocturnal
predators.
vi. Centipedes have a single pair of legs on each body segment and they have a pair of
venomous claws (maxillipedes) that are used for both defense and for capturing and
paralyzing prey.
Class Chilopoda
Centipedes are uniramian arthropods whose bodies are made up of a chain of many (up to 177)
flattened segments, each except the one behind the head and last two bearing a single pair of
appendages (legs). The appendages of the first body segment have been modified to form large,
poisonous fangs that are used to capture prey. The bite of a large centipede, however, can be
painful to an adult and dangerous to a small child.
Centipedes are predatory, feeding on soil invertebrates such as earthworms and terrestrial insects.
All centipedes are terrestrial, but they require moist microhabitats. Fertilization is internal, with
spermatophore transferred in ways similar to many arachnids. Centipedes lay eggs, which in
some species are carefully brooded by the female. When they hatch, the young resemble
miniature adults. Centipedes are a diverse group, including some 20 families and over 2500
species. Most are small, but a few attain up to 10 inches in length.
Order Geophilomorpha (soil centipedes)
i. The most diverse at 1260 species, also contains the largest and leggiest specimens
ii. Bear at least 27 leg-bearing segments with spiracles on all leg-bearing segments
iii. Lack eyes and are basically blind
iv. Have 14–segmented antennae
Order Scolopendromorpha (tropical centipedes)
i. Possess 21 or 23 body segments, except one species Scolopendropsis duplicata, with 39
or 43 segments, with the same number of paired legs
ii. Their antennae have 17 or more segments
iii. There are four ocelli on each side in the family Scolopendridae and one ocellus on each
side in the family Mimopidae, other families are blind.
iv. The only 2 known amphibious centipedes, Scolopendra cataracta and Scolopendra
paradoxa belong to this order
Order Craterostigmomorpha (geographically restricted to Tasmania and New Zealand)
i. The least diverse centipede clade, comprising only two extant species, both in the
genus Craterostigmus,
ii. Are anamorphic centipedes, their anamorphosis comprises a single stage: in their first
moult, they grow from having 12 segments to having 15.
In anamorphosis the young hatch with an incomplete number of segments; the missing
segments are added post-embryonically
iii. They secrete sticky, noxious substances that repel predators and parasites
Order Lithobiomorpha (stone centipedes)
i. Anamorphic centipedes that also reach a mature segment count of 15 trunk segments
ii. Lack compound eyes, and sometimes are blind
iii. Its spiracles are paired and can be found laterally
iv. Have relatively short antennae and legs
v. Comprise of two families, Henicopidae and Lithobiidae.
Order Scutigeromorpha (house centipedes)
i. Are anamorphic, reaching 15 leg-bearing segments in length
ii. They are very fast creatures, and are able to withstand falling at great speed when
dropped.
iii. They are the only centipedes with compound eyes, with a crystalline layer analogous to
that seen in chelicerates and insects
iv. Have long and multi-segmented antennae
v. Have a single spiracular opening at the posterior of each dorsal plate
vi. Comprises of three families, Pselliodidae occurring in the Neotropics and tropical
Africa, Scutigerinidae restricted to southern Africa and Madagascar, Scutigeridae found
in other parts of the world
Class Diplopoda
Like centipedes, millipedes have bodies that are made up of numerous segments. The first four
thoracic segments each bear a single pair of legs, but the following abdominal segments all have
two pairs. Millipedes lack poisonous fangs and do not bite; rather, to discourage predators they
roll into a defensive ball and many emit poisonous or foul-smelling substances.
Most of the approximately 8000 species of millipedes are herbivores or scavengers, living
primarily on decaying plant and animal matter in moist microhabitats. Some species are adept
and powerful burrowers. Like centipedes, female millipedes lay eggs in nests, which are often
carefully guarded. Newly hatched millipedes usually have only 3 pairs of legs, adding legs and
body segments with each molt as they grow.

Subclass Penicillata
Order Polyxenida (bristly millipedes/ pincushion millipedes)
i. Consist of small (<7mm) millipedes with soft, non-calcified body ornamented with tufts
of bristles or setae
ii. Fewer legs i.e. not more than 17 pairs
iii. Lack copulatory appendages in males
Subclass Chilognatha
Order Glomeridesmida
i. Are small (<15 mm) and somewhat flattened
ii. Possess 22 body segments
iii. Unlike other orders, they are unable to roll into a ball.
Order Glomerida (Pill-millipedes)
i. Found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere
ii. Have twelve body segments, 17 to 19 pairs of legs
iii. Males have enlarged rear legs involved in mating
iv. Can roll into a protective ball
Order Sphaerotheriida (giant pill millipedes)
i. Roll into a ball when disturbed to a maximum size of a cherry or golf ball, hence are able
to avoid predators
ii. A few giant pill millipede species are able to produce sound, the only millipedes known
to do this
Order Platydesmida
i. Members have flattened bodies with paronata (lateral extensions of each segment)
ii. Some species practice paternal care with males guarding eggs
iii. Lack eyes
iv. Have between 30 and 110 body segments, and measure up to 60 mm in length
Order Polyzoniida
i. Have a domed dorsal surface with a flat ventral side
ii. Their heads are small and cone-like, with few ocelli
iii. They lack a dorsal groove and paronata
Order Siphonocryptida
A small order comprising of two known species including Siphonocryptus zigzag
Order Siphonophorida
i. Are long and worm-like millipedes with up to 190 body segments
ii. Lack eyes and in many species the head is elongated into a long beak, with mandibles
highly reduced, performing a suctorial function
iii. The body has a dense covering of fine setae
Order Julida
i. Members are mostly small and cylindrical, 10–120 mm in length commonly found in
temperate regions
ii. Eyes may or may not be present
iii. The first pair of legs is modified into hook-like structures in males of many species for
clasping while those on their 7th body segment are modified into gonopods
Order Spirobolida (round-backed millipedes)
i. Members have a pronounced vertical suture in the front of the head
ii. Most of the species live in the tropics, and many are brightly coloured
iii. Mature males have their 8th and 9th pairs of legs modified to gonopods; the posterior
used in sperm-transfer while the anterior gonopods are fused into a single plate-like
structure
Order Spirostreptida
i. Generally large, long and cylindrical, with 30 to 90 body rings
ii. Eyes are present in most species
iii. Some species are very long e.g. the giant African millipedes of the genus
Archispirostreptus that may exceed 30 cm
Order Callipodida
i. Members are long and narrow millipedes, up to 100 mm in length with 40-60 body
segments characterized by longitudinal crests or ridges
ii. A dorsal groove is present running down the mid-line of the body
iii. Sexually mature males possess a single pair of gonopods, consisting of the modified
anterior leg pair of the 7th body segment, and carried concealed within a pouch
Order Chordeumatida
i. Are sausage shaped relatively short-bodied (4–25 mm), with only 26-32 body segments
behind the head
ii. Possess 6 large bristles (setae) on the dorsal surface of each body segment
iii. The first segment (collum) is relatively narrow, giving the appearance of a distinct "neck"
iv. The body tapers towards the rear, and the rearmost tip (telson) contains silk-producing
organs (spinnerets)
iv. A dorsal groove runs down the length of the body, and some species possess paranota
Order Stemmiulida
i. Small to medium sized millipedes, reaching a maximum length of 50 mm
ii. The body tapers gradually, and is laterally compressed, so is taller than wide
iii. A dorsal groove is present and runs from head to tail
iv. The eyes consist of two large ocelli on each side of the head, and some members are
capable of jumping
Order Siphoniulida
i. Small and eyeless, relatively long and narrow with up to 51 segments and reaching up to
7.5 mm
ii. The body color ranges from pure white to tan, and resembles a nematode
iii. The third segment is legless
iv. Males possess a single pair of gonopods consisting of the anterior limbs on the seventh
segment, and which are partially recessed into the body
v. The telson possesses small bristle-like structures called spinnerets
Order Polydesmida
i. Flat-backed millipedes, because on most species, each body segment has wide lateral
keels known as paranota
ii. The keels are produced by the posterior half (metazonite) of each body ring behind
the collum
iii. Have no eyes, and vary in length from 3 to 130 mm
iv. Adults have 19 or 20 rings, while juveniles may have from 7 to 19 rings
v. Mature males have a single pair of gonopods consisting of the modified forward leg pair
of the 7th segment

Termitodesmus spp. Order Glomeridesmida Polyxenus species, Order Polyxenida

Glomeris spp. Order Glomerida A rolled-up giant pill millipede Order Sphaerotheriida

Brachycybe spp. Order Platydesmida Octoglena spp. Order Polyzoniida

Siphonocryptus zigzag Order Siphonocryptida Illacme spp. Order Siphonophorida

Tachypodoiulus niger Order Julida Narceus spp. Order Spirobolida

Archispirostreptus gigus Order Spirostreptida Orthoporus spp. Order Spirostreptida

Stemmiulus spp. Order Stemmiulida Tetracion spp. Order Callipodida

Apheloria spp. Order Polydesmida