Millipedes are animals with elongated bodies and several legs. They are excellent climbers and are found in tropical forests around the world. The intriguing question about these small animals is the number of legs these animals have.
The question about the number of legs of myriapods commonly called “millipedes” or “centipedes” is arousing renewed interest for many. 720, 750, 20, 30, 50, 70 or even 1000 legs? Is this the real number of legs that the millipede has? Based on scientific opinions on this animal, we reveal to you the number of legs that the latter has. How many legs does the millipede really have?
750. This is the maximum number of legs that the known millipedes had until now. However, according to a new study published in the journal Scientific Report, for the first time a specimen seems to deserve its name.
In Western Australia, at a depth of more than 60 meters deep, a millipede with 1,306 legs has been discovered and studied by scientists from Virginia Tech University in the United States. To date, it
is therefore the animal with the most legs in the world. Intotal, eight individuals of this new species have been discovered in the same area, at depths varying from 15 to 60 meters.
Myriapod species: why is the Eumllipes persephone so special?
Named Eumllipes persephone, this myriapod measures exactly “0.95 millimeters wide and 10 centimeters long, has 330 segments and a cone-shaped head with large antennae and a beak for feeding”, the study specifies. Living underground, it also has troglomorphic characteristics, i.e. specific to animals living in the dark. It has neither eyes nor pigmentation. Its long and
narrow body also allows it to move in underground micro-cavities. “The millipede digs by stretching its extensible body, making it thinner to adapt to micro-cavities,” the lead author of the study, Paul Marek, explained to AFP.
How to recognize a millipede?
The millipede, or myriapod, can be recognized by its elongated and segmented body. This is composed of numerous segments. And each generally carries two pairs of legs (in diplopods) or a single pair (in chilopods). When observing them, you will notice that they also have a distinct head with short antennae. Simple mandibles and eyes. In general, millipedes breathe through spiracles located on the sides of their bodies. The coloring of the latter, note that millipedes vary in body color from brown to reddish. Moreover, some can secrete toxic or even very toxic substances to defend themselves. Finally, unlike insects, they do not have wings or a distinct thorax.
Where are the “millipedes” found?
Millipedes are mainly found in damp and dark environments. These include places such as:
Forest floors Undergrowth Decaying leaves Under stones Bark. These small animals prefer places where they can easily access decaying organic matter. For many, this is their main source of food. They are also found in cellars, under sinks or in the basements of homes. And especially in
humid areas. Millipedes avoid dry and sunny areas, because they need a humid environment to breathe through their skin.
Do millipedes really have a thousand legs and centipedes a hundred legs?
It is important to note that scientific opinion is divided but somewhat unanimous on this fact. Indeed, “thousand” and “hundred” are Latin prefixes meaning 1,000 and 100 respectively. But these numbers do not accurately represent the number of legs these creatures have. Why? As mentioned above, according to scientists, some species of millipedes can have up to 750 legs, such as
the Illacme plenipes, which holds the record for the largest number of legs among millipedes. Other races do not actually have a thousand legs. Some may even have less than 100. As for
centipedes, they can have more than 350 legs. Although most have between 30 and 354, depending on the species. So, the names “millipedes” and “centipedes” simply suggest that they have many legs, but not precisely 1,000 or 100 legs for each category of animal.
Why do we say that there is a difference between millipedes and centipedes?
We often distinguish two groups of creatures under the generic term “millipedes.”
