Myriapods (Subphylum Myriapoda) |
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Myriapoda is the subphylum of arthropods that includes centipedes, millipedes, symphlids, pauropods, and arthropleurideans. There are almost 13,000 described and an estimated 72,000 undescribed species of myriapods. This includes both still living (extant) myriapods and those known only from the fossil record. All myriapods are characterized by the following:
Millipedes (Diplopoda) have long, cylindrical or slightly flattened bodies with 20 to 100 body segments. The first four body segments each have a single pair of legs. The last segment bears the anus and has no legs. The remaining segments are fused together in pairs, and each fused segment has two pairs of legs. The antennae are short, elbowed, and usually have seven segments. Few millipedes are predatory and none are venomous. They do not bite. Centipedes (Chilopoda) have long, flattened bodies with 15 to 173 body segments. The segments are not fused together. There is always an odd number of pairs of legs. The legs on the first segment are modified into a pair of jaw-like venom claws behind the head. The last two body segments have no legs. All other segments have a single pair of legs. The antennae are long, thread-like, and have fourteen or more segments. All centipedes are predators, and all are venomous. All can bite and some inflict painful bites. Symphlids (Symphlya) are not common. The are similar to centipedes but have only 10 to 12 pairs of legs. They are white, eyeless, and small, 1 ⁄32″ to 5 ⁄16″ (1 to 8 mm) long. The antennae are not branched. Pauropods (Pauropoda) are not common. The are similar to centipedes but have only 9 pairs of legs. They are white or brown, eyeless, and minute, 1 ⁄64″ to 1 ⁄16″ (0.5 to 2.0 mm) long. The antennae not branched. Arthropleurideans (Arthropleuridea) are extinct and known only from fossil records. |
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Photo by Alfredo Colon
Recent Additions |
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Millipede (Cylindroiulus caeruleocinctus) |
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Cylindroiulus caeruleocinctus is a large millipede native to western and northern Europe, Scandinavia, and the United Kingdom. Human activities have greatly contributed to the dispersal of this species. Its range continues to expand east and southeast in Europe. It was recently found for the first time in Hungary. It was introduced into North America and now occurs across northern United States and southern Canada. Adults are worm-like, and cylindrical. They have more than 32 body segments (rings). Each ring is brownish-black with bronze-colored edges. This species is distinguished from similar millipedes by its large size and by the lack of a pointed projection on the last body segment. |
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Photo by Alfredo Colon | ||||
Other Recent Additions |
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greenhouse millipede (Oxidus gracilis) parajulid millipede (Tribe Aniulini) flat-backed millipedes (Order Polydesmida) |
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Photo by Alfredo Colon | ||||
This list includes only myriapods that have been recorded in Minnesota, but not all of the myriapods found in Minnesota. |
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Abacion texense (millipede) Aniulini (parajulid millipedes) Aniulus diversifrons diversifrons (millipede) Aniulus garius (millipede) Auturus evides (flat-backed millipede) Order Callipodida (crested millipedes) Cylindroiulus caeruleocinctus (millipede) Cylindroiulus spp. (millipedes) Eurymerodesmus spp. (flat-backed millipedes) Geophilus flavus (boreal yellow-headed soil centipede) Geophilus vittatus (diamondback soil centipede) Lithobiomorpha (stone centipedes) Lithobius forficatus (brown centipede) Narceus americanus (American giant millipede) Oriulus venustus (millipede) Oxidus gracilis (greenhouse millipede) Pleuroloma flavipes (flat-backed millipede) Polydesmida (flat-backed millipedes) Polydesmus angustus (flat-backed millipede) Polydesmus serratus (flat-backed millipede) Scolopocryptops sexspinosus (eastern fire centipede) Scutigera coleoptrata (house centipede) Scytonotus granulatus (granulated millipede) |
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Created: 1/31/2019
Last Updated: