Do Millipedes Or Centipedes Have More Legs?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Don’t assume that’s exactly how many legs each has on its entire body, though! Some species of millipedes can have as many as 750 legs.

Centipedes can have more than 350 legs

. Learn more in Nature Lab!

How many legs do centipedes and millipedes have?

Centipedes can have

between 15 and 177 pairs of legs

depending on the species (average 35 pairs), and millipedes can have up to 200 pairs. The main differences are that centipedes have one pair of legs on each segment of their bodies- millipedes have two.

Who has more feet centipede or millipede?

The smallest centipedes can be less than a half-inch long, while the biggest are more

than 1 foot long

! Millipedes can be tiny — about one-tenth of an inch long — but some species grow to be more than 10 inches long. You should avoid handling both centipedes and millipedes, but not for the same reason.

How many legs do millipedes have?

How many legs do millipedes have? Millipedes (Subphylum Myriapoda; Class Diplopoda) have two pairs of legs on most body segments. The millipede Illacme plenipes (found in California) has the most legs of any animal on Earth (750 legs). However, most millipede species have

about 300 legs

.

Do millipedes have more legs?

There are 7,000 different species of millipede, 1,400 of those in the U.S. Many of those have different number of legs. Scientists have yet to find any that have 1,000 legs.

Most have between 24 and 750

.

Why you should never squish a centipede?

The reason why is simple: you should never squish a centipede

because it might be the only thing standing between you and a bathroom literally crawling with other gross creatures

. … Unlike its larger, more wormlike cousins, the house centipede has a fairly short body, with a perimeter of about 30 scuttling legs.

Which is poisonous millipede or centipede?

Millipedes, unlike centipedes,

are not venomous

and are predominantly considered to be non-poisonous. However, there are some millipede species that produce irritating fluids from glands located on the side of their body.

Are millipedes faster than centipedes?


The centipedes can move faster than the millipedes because of its longer legs

. They can quickly bite their prey because of their rapid movement. The millipedes are; however, slow walkers and they cannot catch their prey so fast. That’s why they can live on wood and plants.

How do I get rid of millipedes?

  1. Seal any cracks and/or crevices in the foundation, around wiring, and plumbing where millipedes, or other pests, could enter.
  2. Millipedes require high humidity. …
  3. Repair any leaks. …
  4. Clean out and remove debris from gutters. …
  5. Keep your yard clean by removing dead plant matter.

What is the largest millipede?


The giant African millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas)

, which is native to subtropical Africa, is the largest extant species, achieving lengths up to 280 mm (11 inches).

Can millipedes walk backwards?

Most millipedes have from 40-400 legs with the maximum number of legs reaching 750. … Millipedes move their legs in a wave-like undulation along their body propelling themselves forward (or backward!) against the substrate.

What eats a millipede?

What Eats Centipedes and Millipedes? Centipedes and millipedes that make their homes outdoors are prey to

shrews

, toads, badgers and birds, including domestic chickens. Ground beetles, ants and spiders may also hunt young millipedes and centipedes.

Why do millipedes curl when they are threatened?

Millipedes Coil Their Bodies Into a Spiral When Threatened

Millipedes aren’t fast, so they cannot outrun their predators. Instead, when a millipede feels it is in danger,

it will coil its body into a tight spiral

, protecting its belly.

How far do millipedes travel?

Some sources of millipedes such as woodlands and crop reserve program fields can produce unbelievably large numbers of millipedes that invade from distances of

50 feet or more

.

How many legs does a giant African millipede have?

Millipede behavior and facts

The giant African millipede is the largest of the world’s 10,000 species of millipedes. Of the world’s millipedes, leg counts range from 36 to 400. They don’t actually have 1,000 legs, despite the name. A giant African millipede may have

30 to 40 segments

, with 4 legs per segment.

Why do centipedes curl up?

Millipedes or centipedes — anatomy

Despite their nickname, “thousand-leggers,” most have fewer than 100 legs. Even with all of those legs, these arthropods move slowly.

When provoked (or resting)

millipedes will curl up. Centipedes are also typically brown.

Jasmine Sibley
Author
Jasmine Sibley
Jasmine is a DIY enthusiast with a passion for crafting and design. She has written several blog posts on crafting and has been featured in various DIY websites. Jasmine's expertise in sewing, knitting, and woodworking will help you create beautiful and unique projects.