Myriapods | Myriapoda
Myriapods refer to terrestrial animals under the subphylum arthropods. They include millipedes, centipedes, pseudo centipedes, and among others. These animals are identified by bodies separated into many segments having a head and a trunk. They may also have many legs or fewer than ten legs. Myriapods are predominantly found in moist forests where they play an important role in the environment by breaking down decaying matter and also helping in soil aeration. Millipede which falls under class Diplopoda is the most abundant and diverse in this class. These creatures also have a single pair of antennae and simple eyes with some species of Myriapods adapted to producing light.
Myriapods typically have more than 6 legs as well as one pair of antennae. The number of legs a myriapod has depends on its classification as millipedes can have between 36 to 400 legs. Other classifications like the Symphyla are born with 6 legs, but grow others throughout their lifetime.
The primary characteristics of myriapods include having a segmented and worm-shaped body that is not soft, but hard due to mineral salts in their environment. Myriapods also have a head with a pair of antennae, a long body divided into 2 regions, tracheal breathing, and embody terrestrial behavior.
Myriapods first appeared about 428 million years ago. This discovery was made through the fossil of the myriapod, the millipede, Pneumodesmus newmani. The Pneumodesmus newmani is also important as it is the earliest known terrestrial animal. The overall fossil record of myriapods extends back into the late Silurian period.
