[Biology Class Notes] on Difference Between Centipede and Millipede Pdf [2024]

Centipede and Millipede

The largest phylum of the animal kingdom is Arthropoda. This is more clear from the fact that out of all the species found on earth 78% belongs to phylum Arthropoda. It is the 6th phylum in the animal kingdom and the members of this phylum have jointed appendages (arthro-jointed; pods-appendages). Both centipede and millipede belong to this phylum.

1.Centipede

2.Millipede

Scientific name – Julus
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Arthropoda
Subphylum – Mandibulata
Class – Diplopoda

Subphylum- Mandibulata

Phylum Arthropoda is so much vast that it is again divided into 3 subphyla as

Trilobitomorpha
Chelicerata
Mandibulata

Mandibulata is the largest subphylum of Arthropoda. It has 6 classes.

Since millipede and centipede belong to mandibulata we will restrict our discussion to this subphylum only.

General Characteristics Of Organisms Placed In Mandibulata Are-

Habitat can be terrestrial/aquatic/volant/ parasite.
Respiration by gills/trachea.
Compound/simple eyes may be present.
Development may include the presence of larva (indirect) or may not (direct).
Pair of structures like antenna, mandible, maxilla may be present or may be absent.

Here two classes of mandibulata out of six are discussed to which centipede and millipede belong.

Class – Chilopoda

The members of this class are known as centipedes or hundred leggers. Even though they are called a hundred leggers but they have nearly about 30-300 legs.
They have a Dorso-ventrally flattened body.
These organisms are poisonous to men.
They respire through the trachea.
Their excretion takes place through Malpighian tubules.
They have one pair of antennas, one pair of mandibles, and two pairs of the maxilla.

Examples- Scolopendra/Centipede,

Alpes grandidieri- feather tail centipede

Lithobius forficatus – stone centipede

Ethmostigmus trigonous – blue ring centipede

Class – Diplopoda

There are around 8000 species that are estimated to be in Diplopoda out of which only 3000 are known to us.
The members of this class are known as Millipede/thousand leggers.
They have a cylindrical body.
They are non-poisonous to men
Respiration takes place by the trachea.
Excretion takes place by Malpighian tubules.
They may have simple eyes or can be absent. Compound eyes are absent.
One pair of antenna, One pair of mandate tables, and One pair of the maxilla are present on their body.
Examples-Millipede/Julus, Octoglena sierra, Anadenobolus monilia, sis, E plus pulchripes, etc.

(Image to be added soon)

Difference Between Centipede and Millipede

After knowing the general characteristics of the class to which these organisms belong, it becomes easy to differentiate between the two organisms. Some people might think both are same but the following table will make the difference more clear –

Centipede V/S Millipedes

Characters	Centipede	Millipede
Other Names	Hundred leggers	Thousand leggers
Shape	Centipede has a flat body	Millipede has a cylindrical body
Length	The average length is from 2mm to 38 cm.	Their average millimeter is from a few millimeters to 30 cm.
Color	Have shades of brown and red. Have dark coloration.	Generally have black/brown color; some species are brightly colored.
Feeding Habits	Centipede is carnivorous and eats small insects.	The millipede is detritivores and eats dead and decayed matter.
Habitat	They are found in moist habitats like soil, leaf litter, wooden logs, tropics, rainforests, etc.	They are found in gardens and flower beds. They prefer humid places.
Reproductive Ability	Here copulation is not found, female receive the spermatophore and lays around ten to fifty eggs at a time	Male has gonopods which transfer male gametes to female body.10-300eggs are laid at a time.
< p dir="ltr">Body Segments	They have more than 20 segments	They have fifteen or more segments
Effect On Humans	They are venomous and poisonous to man.	They are not poisonous to man but can affect vegetation in fields.

Fun Facts

Do you know that the largest existing species of centipede is the Amazonian centipede – Scolopendra gigantic (30cm in length).

Also, millipedes are the oldest land animals found on earth!