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myriapod


large millipede
Orthoporus ornatus. This desert-dwelling giant millipede is about 8 inches long. Credit: David B. Richman, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces.
Literally, "many-legged." According to one system of classification, Myriapoda is a class of arthropods containing only centipedes (Chilopoda) and millipedes (Diplopoda). A significant point of distinction between these two groups is that whereas centipedes have a single pair of legs attached to each body segment, millipedes have two pairs (hence, the name diplopod).

According to another taxonomic system, the Myriapoda is a subphylum of the arthropods, including, as well as centipedes and millipedes, pauropods (Pauropoda) and symphilids (Symphyla).


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