Difference Between Centipede And Millipede (With Pictures)

Centipede and millipedes belong to class Chilopoda of the subphylum Myriapoda, which is an arthropod group of multi-legged creatures. While they may appear similar at first glance due to their long, segmented bodies, they belong to different orders and have several notable differences.

Learn the difference between Centipede and Millipede. The basis of comparison include: body shape, classification, number of legs per segment, legs appearance, spiracles, genital opening, number of legs, antennae, movement, reproduction among many others.

Centipedes are members of the order Chilopoda, have flattened bodies with one pair of legs per body segment. These legs are modified into venomous claws called forcipules, which they use to capture and immobilize their prey, primarily insects and other small invertebrates. Centipedes are usually fast and agile predators, and some species can deliver painful bites to humans, although they are generally not dangerous. In in gardens and ecosystems they are beneficial in controlling insect populations.

Millipedes belong to the order Diplopoda. Unlike centipedes, millipedes have two pairs of legs per body segment. This makes them to appearance as having numerous legs. However, despite their name, millipedes do not have a thousand legs; the number usually depend on the species but they can be from from a few hundred to several hundred legs. Millipedes feed on decaying plant matter and detritus. They are essential decomposers in ecosystems, helping break down organic material and enriching the soil with nutrients.

Both centipedes and millipedes are found everywhere in the world from forests and grasslands to caves and deserts. Both groups are nocturnal, preferring to stay hidden during the day and emerging at night to forage for food.

Centipedes are active predators, while millipedes are scavengers and detritivores. Also, centipedes tend to be faster-moving and more aggressive, while millipedes are generally slower and less aggressive, relying on chemical defenses like secretion of toxic or foul-smelling substances to deter predators.

Characteristics of Centipede

Centipedes are rarely seen by humans due to their nocturnal activity and speed in which they move. Here are some of the characteristic features of centipedes:

• Centipedes are flexible, dorsoventrally flattened arthropods.
• Centipedes have one pair of legs per body segment.
• Centipedes are carnivorous and feed on small organisms such as coakroaches, ants and other insects. They kill their prey by injecting them with venom.
• Centipedes are terrestrial arthropods belonging to class Chilopoda.
• Centipedes are armed with poisonous glands to attack and kill their prey. Their bite can also be fatal to humans.
• The centipedes’ legs are articulated laterally along the body.
• The laterally positioned spiracles may be valvular and can be closed.
• Centipedes have a single genital aperture opening at the posterior end.
• The visibility of centipedes’ legs is such that the legs seem to spread from the body (extend sidesways from their body).
•  Centipedes tread forward using their legs and therefore they move very fast.
• Centipedes have long antennae on the top of their head.
• The body of a centipede is divided into 15 to 100 segments with average number of legs being 50 for normal centipedes and 360 for giant species.
• Centipedes do not reproduce by mating or copulation, the male centipede deposits a bundle of sperms (spermatophores ) and that the female is suppose (meant) to absorb the bundle of sperms on finding it.
• The female centipede lays around 40 to 50 eggs, after a period of few months.
• Majority of the centipedes have a length of between 4 to 5 inches long, for giant species of centipedes they measure between 7 and 12 inches long.

Characteristics of Millipedes

Millipede are often referred to as “thousand-leggers” and are usually commonplace around structures and  in damp areas such as under leaves needles and dead plant debris or in cracks and crevices.  Some of the characteristic features of millipede include:

• Millipedes are rigid, subcylindrically shaped arthropods.
• Millipedes have two pairs of legs per body segment.
• Millipedes are detritivorous feeders; they primarily feed on decaying organic matter and may eat the roots and leaves of seedling plants. Millipedes are ecologically useful as agents of microbial decomposition and soil nutrient cycles.
• Millipedes are terrestrial arthropods belonging to class Diplopoda.
• Millipedes possess toxic compounds (corrosive liquid) that they use as their defense mechanism. This toxic compound can be harmful if they get in touch with humans, they can cause burns and severe allergic reactions. There are also some type of millipedes that do not posses poison glands, they only curl their body and produce a foul-smell when threatened.
• The millipedes’ legs are articulated mid-ventrally with the body.
• The ventrally positioned spiracles are not valvular and cannot be closed.
• The millipedes have a single genital aperture opening at the anterior end.
• Millipedes move forward by their tiny legs which move in a wave-like pattern and thus they are slow-moving creatures.
• The visibility of millipedes’ legs is such that the legs seem to be in line with the body (extend directly from their body).
• Millipedes have short antennae on the top of their head.
• The body of a millipede is divided into 10 to 15 segments with average number of legs being 60 for normal millipedes. For giant species of millipede, the number of legs can reach up to 750.
• Reproduction in millipedes is such that the male and female join for mating whereby the male deposits sperms within female.
• The female millipede can lay up to 300 eggs after a few months.
• The average length of adult millipede can vary between 1 to 5 inches. The giant species of millipede can be as long as 15 inches.

Also Read: Difference Between Vertebrates And Invertebrates

Centipede vs Millipede: Key Differences

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Similarities Between Centipedes and Millipedes

• Both Centipedes and Millipedes consist of segmented bodies with many pairs of legs.
• They both belong to the same group of terrestrial arthropods and they prefer moist, protected outdoor habitats such as rotting logs, leaves, bark and undersides of stones.
• They both types of elongated and segmented type of insects.
• Majority of Centipedes and Millipedes have same colors.
• In both insects, respiration happens through trachea.
• Centipedes and Millipedes reproduce through sexual reproduction, though they have no direct copulatory organs.
• Both Centipedes and Millipedes have simple eyes and lay their eggs in the soil.
• Centipedes and Millipedes have a pair of antennae that they use for smelling and eating. Also they both breathe through spiracles that connect trachea system.
• Both centipedes and millipedes consist of toxic chemical compounds that can cause poisoning, burns and even kill small insects.
• Both are divided into head and trunk.
• Both centipedes and millipedes have mouth part that lies on the underside of the head.
• A pair of mandibles is present in both the millipedes and centipedes.

What is the main difference between Centipede and millipede?

Centipedes are flexible, dorsoventrally flattened arthropods with one pair of legs per body segment. On the other hand, Millipedes are rigid, subcylindrically shaped arthropods with two pairs of legs per body segment.