millipedes

(Class Diplopoda)

Overview
millipede (Class Diplopoda)
Photo by Alfredo Colon
 

Diplopoda (millipedes) is the largest class of myriapods. It occurs on every continent worldwide, including Antarctica. There are about 12,000 described species of millipedes worldwide, and an estimated 80,000 undescribed species. There are 914 described species in North America north of Mexico, and at least 14 species, probably many more, in Minnesota. They are found in almost all habitats in leaf litter, under the bark of rotting logs, under rocks, and on living trees. Most feed on decaying vegetation, some occasionally feed on live plants, a few are carnivorous.

 
           
 
Description
 
 

Millipedes have long, cylindrical or slightly flattened bodies with 20 to 100 body segments. The first four body segments each have a single pair of legs. The last segment bears the anus and has no legs. The remaining segments are fused together in pairs, and each fused segment has two pairs of legs. The antennae are short, elbowed, and usually have seven segments. Few millipedes are predatory and none are venomous. They do not bite.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

7, 24, 27, 29, 30, 82, 83.

 
  9/17/2023      
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Subphylum

Myriapoda (myriapods)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

Subclass Arthropleuridea (extinct)

Subclass Chilognatha

Subclass Penicillata

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

millipedes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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AngelG

 
  found on carpet near back sliding door, …   millipede (Class Diplopoda)  
           
  millipede (Class Diplopoda)      
           
  … accidentally cut in half trying to flip it to get a photo of its underside & after doing so the half with the head keeps trying to get somewhere it found it’s other half and for a min it looked like it was going to attach itself back together but eventually crawled over it. …   millipede (Class Diplopoda)  
           
  … I am going to put both halves outside. But looks like the head half will live. Sorry little guy.   millipede (Class Diplopoda)  
 

Alfredo Colon

 
    millipede (Class Diplopoda)      
 

Crystal Boyd

 
    bristly buttercup      
           
 
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slideshow

       
 
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Other Videos
 
  Diplopoda (Millipede )
SozoAquatics
 
   
 
About

Nov 8, 2015

Millipedes are arthropods in the class Diplopoda characterised by having two pairs of jointed legs on most body segments. Each double-legged segment is a result of two single segments fused together as one. Most millipedes have very elongated cylindrical or flattened bodies with more than 20 segments, while pill millipedes are shorter and can roll into a ball. Although the name "millipede" derives from the Latin for "thousand feet", no known species has 1,000; the record of 750 legs belongs to Illacme plenipes. There are approximately 12,000 named species classified into sixteen orders and around 140 families, making Diplopoda the largest class of myriapods, an arthropod group which also includes centipedes and other multi-legged creatures.

 

 

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  AngelG
11/3/2023

Location: Blaine, MN

found on carpet near back sliding door, accidentally cut in half trying to flip it to get a photo of its underside & after doing so the half with the head keeps trying to get somewhere it found it’s other half and for a min it looked like it was going to attach itself back together but eventually crawled over it. I am going to put both halves outside. But looks like the head half will live. Sorry little guy.

millipede (Class Diplopoda)

 
  Alfredo Colon
6/14/2018

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

millipede (Class Diplopoda)

 
  Crystal Boyd
5/31/2013

Location: Black Dog Preserve

bristly buttercup  
           
 
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Created: 9/26/2020

Last Updated:

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