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The name, centipede, literally means "hundred feet,"
and chilopods are commonly referred to as "hundred-leggers."
The centipede has one pair ( two legs ) on each body segment; adult leg
# ranges from 30 (15 pairs) to 382 (191 pairs)
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The millipede has two pairs or four legs on most segments. Adult
leg # ranges from 22 (11 pairs) to 750 (375 pairs).
The millipede is an insect that is also a member of the arthropod family. This is a subset in many species including
crustaceans, arachnids (the family to which spiders belongs) and insects. Arthropods have an exoskeleton (external skeleton
or shell), a segmented body (the segments of the millipede are fused in pairs before birth), and jointed appendages. |
| Legs rise laterally and are clearly visible on both
sides of the body |
Legs extend at most only slightly laterally and are
only partly visible on sides of the body. This position provides strong
support, and the body is carried high off substrate. |
| Last legs extend backwards behind the body and are
not used for forward propulsion. |
Last legs extend sideways parallel to other legs. |
| Legs articulate laterally with the body. |
Legs articulate mid-ventrally with the body. The
legs provide the pushing/burrowing power of the millipede. |
| Flexible |
Relatively inflexible |
| Almost exclusively carnivores. |
Primarily detritivores (eat debris and decaying vegetation). |
| Adapted for speed (except for Geophilomorpha, which
moves slowly and burrows). |
Primarily slow moving arthropods adapted for burrowing. |
| Adults vary in length from 10-270+mm (1/2-10 1/2 in. |
Adults vary in length from 3-270+mm |
| Centipedes have "poison claws" under the head to kill their prey. |
Millipedes lack structures to bite, pinch, or sting,
and are harmless to humans. They do have defensive secretions that will burn if they get into the eyes. |
| Centipedes occur in all habitats. The house centipede prefers to live in dark,
damp areas. Other varieties can be found in arid desert areas. |
Millipedes occur primarily in moist deciduous forests. |
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