The Life of Animals | Millipede | The millipede's most obvious feature is its large number of legs. Having very many short legs makes millipedes rather slow, but They are powerful burrowers. With Their legs and body length is moving in a wavelike pattern, They easily force Their way underground head first. The head of a millipede is typically rounded above and flattened below and bears large mandibles. In many millipedes, these plates are Fused to varying degrees, Sometimes forming a single cylindrical ring. Unlike centipedes and other similar animals, each segment bears two pairs of legs, rather than just one. This Is Actually Because each is formed by the fusion of two embryonic segments, and is therefore properly Referred to as a "diplosegment", or double segment. The first Few segments behind the head are not Fused in this fashion, and the first segment is legless, Called a collum segment while the second to fourth have one pair each. In some millipedes, The Last Few segments may also be legless. The final segment bears a telson.
Millipedes breathe through two pairs of spiracles on each diplosegment. The head contains a pair of sensory organs known as the Tömösváry organs. Millipede eyes consist of a number of simple flat lensed ocelli Arranged in a group on the front / side of the head. Many species of millipedes, including cave-dwelling millipedes Such as Causeyella, Their eyes have secondarily lost. According to Guinness World Records the African giant black millipede Archispirostreptus gigas can grow to 38.6 centimetres (15.2 in) Female millipedes can be differentiated from female millipedes by the presence of one or two pairs of legs modified into gonopods. These modified legs, the which are usually on the seventh segment, are used to transfer sperm packets to the female During copulation. In the female, the genital pores open into a small chamber, or vulva, the which is covered by a small hood-like cover, and is used to store the sperm after copulation. Many species simply deposit the eggs on moist soil or organic detritus, but some constructs Nests lined with dried faeces.
Some species moult within specially prepared chambers, the which They may also use to wait out the dry weather, and most species eat the shed exoskeleton after moulting. Millipedes live from one to ten years, Depending on the species. Many species also emit poisonous liquid secretions or hydrogen cyanide gas through microscopic pores Called odoriferous glands along the sides of Their bodies as a secondary defense. At least one species, Polyxenus fasciculatus, employs detachable bristles to entangle ants. Eye exposures to these secretions Causes eye irritation and general Potentially more severe effects Such as conjunctivitis and keratitis First aid consists of flushing the area thoroughly with water; Further treatment is aimed at relieving the local effects.
