Diplopoda

The Diplopoda are a group of arthropods more commonly known as millipedes. The name millipede means thousand feet, millipedes do not have a thousand feet but they can have over 200 legs.

Millipedes have segmented bodies and apart from the head and final segments most of the body segments are virtually identical in appearance. Millipedes and centipedes can be distinguished from one another by examining the number of pairs of legs attached to each body segment. Centipedes have one pair of legs per body segment and millipedes have two.

Most millipedes are herbivores or detritivores.

A photograph of a giant millipede; these millipedes are often kept as pets.
Photograph by ltshears.

Other names for (or types of) Diplopoda include:

• Millipede

Related terms

• Chilopoda
• Detritivore
• Herbivore
• Myriapoda

Related groups of terms

• Arthropod Classes

Related pages on this web site

• Diplopoda - Millipedes
• Giant Millipede caresheet

See other words beginning with D