Where do millipedes live?Ī better question would be, where do they not live? Millipedes occur on every continent (except Antarctica). Millipedes are also generally slow-moving, where centipedes can be rather quick. Centipedes, on the contrary, have one pair of feet on each segment, are predominantly carnivores and eat mostly insects, and are venomous and can inflict painful bites. Millipedes have two pair of legs per segment - or two segments fused together, are docile and are detritivores, eating on decaying wood, leaves and plant matters. Their mouthparts Millipedes vs centipedesĪlthough millipedes and centipedes belong to the same group of multi-legged species, there are some distinctive features which make them different. They use bacteria to help break down the detritus that is eaten. Along the trunk, the section after the head is the digestive system. The respiratory system contains two pairs of spiracles on each fused segment - the ones with two legs - and is used to breathe. On the second segment is the sexual apparatus located. The last segment also hasn’t a pair of feet, and this is where the anal valves are located, sometimes also called the anal segment. The antennae are used to smell and taste. Although they can hear they feel vibrations through their body and legs. Where sight is presumably only limited to see the difference between light and dark, and some ultraviolet light, their sense of touch is more developed. The first ‘segment’ don’t have legs, and it contains the antennae, mouthparts and eyes (ocular field). Millipedes are characterised by having two pair of feet on most body segments, which are actually two single segments that are fused together. Millipedes belong to the phylum anthropods and have an exoskeleton made out of many segments. A millipedes primary defence is to curl up into a coil to protect their delicate underbody with their hard outer exoskeleton. There are about 12.000 species of millipedes described, making it the largest class within the multi-legged animals. Millipedes belong together with centipedes and other multi-legged bug creatures to the group of myriapods - where the name ‘myriad’ actually means 10.000, the multi-legged creature that has the most legs ( Illacme plenipes) has “only” 750 legs. But first, let’s find out more about millipedes! About millipedes Many millipede species are hardy, are easy to keep and take care of, although, you need to make proper preparations to fully enjoy the life of millipedes. Millipedes are fascinating anthropods, and it is mesmerizing to observe how those many little feet wave and make the tubular body move forwards.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |