Everything about Myriapod totally explained
Myriapoda is a
subphylum of
arthropods containing
millipedes,
centipedes and others. The group contains 13,000 species, all of which are
terrestrial . Although their name suggests they've
myriad (10,000) legs, myriapods range from having over 750 legs (
Illacme plenipes) to having fewer than ten legs. They have a single pair of
antennae and simple eyes.
Myriapods are most abundant in moist forests, where they fulfill an important role in breaking down decaying plant material . The majority are
herbivorous, with the exception of
centipedes, which are chiefly nocturnal
predators. Pauropodans and
symphylans are small, sometimes microscopic animals that resemble centipedes superficially and live in
soils. Millipedes differ from the other groups in having their
body segments fused into pairs, giving the appearance that each segment bears two pairs of
legs, while the other three groups have a single pair of legs on each body segment.
Although not generally considered dangerous to humans, many myriapods produce noxious
secretions (often containing
benzoquinones) which can cause temporary
blistering and discolouration of the skin .
The
fossil record of myriapods reaches back into the late
Silurian, although molecular evidence suggests a diversification in the
Cambrian Period , and Cambrian fossils exist which resemble myriapods .
There are four classes of extant myriapods,
Chilopoda (centipedes),
Diplopoda,
Pauropoda and
Symphyla, containing a total of around 12,000
species . While each of these groups of myriapods is believed to be
monophyletic, relationships among them are less certain .
Centipedes
Centipedes make up the order Chilopoda. They are fast,
predatory and
venomous, hunting mostly at night. There are around 3,300 species to the giant
Scolopendra gigantea, which may exceed 30
cm (12 in).
Millipedes
Most
millipedes are slower than centipedes, and feed on
leaf litter and
detritus. They are distinguished by the fusion of each pair of
body segments into a single unit, giving the appearance of having two pairs of legs per segment. Around 8,000 species have been described, which may represent less than a tenth of the true global millipede diversity .
Pauropoda
Pauropoda is another small group of small myriapods. They are typically 0.5–2.0 mm long and live in the soil on all continents except
Antarctica . Over 700 species have been described .
Further Information
Get more info on 'Myriapod'.
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