Millipede

Millipede facts at a glance

What is a baby millipede called?

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Body and legs

Millipedes have long, rounded, segmented bodies, and most segments carry two pairs of legs, which sets them apart from centipedes. This gives them dozens to hundreds of legs that move in graceful, rippling waves as they walk. Although the name means thousand legs, no species was known to truly exceed a thousand until a recently discovered Australian species finally surpassed it.

Diet and recycling

Millipedes are detritivores that feed mainly on decaying leaves, wood, and other rotting plant matter on the forest floor. By breaking down this material and returning nutrients to the soil, they play an important role as natural recyclers, much like earthworms. A few species also eat fungi or, rarely, living plant tissue.

Defense

Millipedes are slow and cannot bite or sting, so they rely on other defenses. When threatened, most curl into a tight spiral to protect their soft undersides and legs. Many species also release foul-smelling or irritating chemicals from special glands, and some produce compounds strong enough to deter or harm predators.

Habitat and life cycle

Millipedes live in soil, leaf litter, and rotting wood in damp habitats on every continent except Antarctica. They lay eggs in the soil, and the young hatch with few segments and legs, adding more each time they molt. Many species are long-lived for invertebrates, surviving several years in suitable conditions.

Did you know? Millipede facts

• Millipedes are slow-moving arthropods in the class Diplopoda, with long, rounded bodies whose segments each carry two pairs of legs.
• Almost never. Despite the name, most millipedes have a few hundred legs at most. Only one recently discovered Australian species has been found to truly exceed a thousand legs.
• No. Millipedes cannot bite or sting and are harmless to people. Some release irritating chemicals as a defense, so it is best to wash your hands after handling them.
• Millipedes are detritivores that eat decaying leaves, wood, and other rotting plant matter. By breaking this down, they recycle nutrients back into the soil.
• Millipedes have two pairs of legs per segment, are slow, rounded, harmless plant eaters. Centipedes have one pair of legs per segment, are fast, flattened, and venomous predators.
• Conservation: Least Concern (IUCN, most species).

Diet & feeding

Millipede feeds primarily as a detritivore (decaying leaves and plant matter). Millipedes are detritivores that feed mainly on decaying leaves, wood, and other rotting plant matter on the forest floor. By breaking down this material and returning nutrients to the soil, they play an important role as natural recyclers,

Adaptations

• Millipedes have long, rounded, segmented bodies, and most segments carry two pairs of legs, which sets them apart from centipedes. This gives them dozens to hundreds of legs that move in graceful, rippling waves as they walk. Although the name means thousand legs, no species was known to truly exceed a thousand until a recently discovered Australian species finally surpassed it.
• Millipedes are detritivores that feed mainly on decaying leaves, wood, and other rotting plant matter on the forest floor. By breaking down this material and returning nutrients to the soil, they play an important role as natural recyclers, much like earthworms. A few species also eat fungi or, rarely, living plant tissue.

Behaviour & ecology

• Millipedes have long, rounded, segmented bodies, and most segments carry two pairs of legs, which sets them apart from centipedes. This gives them dozens to hundreds of legs that move in graceful, rippling waves as they walk. Although the name means thousand legs, no species was known to truly exceed a thousand until a recently discovered Australian species finally surpassed it.
• Millipedes are detritivores that feed mainly on decaying leaves, wood, and other rotting plant matter on the forest floor. By breaking down this material and returning nutrients to the soil, they play an important role as natural recyclers, much like earthworms. A few species also eat fungi or, rarely, living plant tissue.
• Millipedes are slow and cannot bite or sting, so they rely on other defenses. When threatened, most curl into a tight spiral to protect their soft undersides and legs. Many species also release foul-smelling or irritating chemicals from special glands, and some produce compounds strong enough to deter or harm predators.

Communication

• Millipede uses scent, posture, and vocal signals to mark territory and coordinate social behaviour.
• Communication intensity often peaks during breeding seasons and territorial disputes.

Habitat & range

Soil and leaf litter worldwide

Ecological role

Millipede plays a recognised ecological role in soil and leaf litter worldwide.

Conservation status of the Millipede

Sources & references

This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Millipede:

• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

  Conservation status (Least Concern) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Diplopoda.

• IUCN Red List — Diplopoda.

  Conservation status (Least Concern) and population trends.

• Wikipedia — Millipede.

  General taxonomy and overview (cross-check primary sources).

• Global Animal Guide editorial standards

  How we research, source, review, and update every guide for accuracy.