Arthropoda: Class Diplopoda

There are about 8,000 species belonging to class Diplopoda, which comprises the millipedes and is found worldwide. The head region has a pair of antennae, a pair of mandibles, and two pairs of maxillae that are usually fused into a single mouthpart, the chilognatharium. Millipedes possess a tracheal system for respiration. They are herbivores or scavengers on dead plant material. Many are protected by glands that produce toxic or unpleasant compounds.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Class Insecta
• Class Symphyla
• Class Pauropoda
• Class Diplopoda
• Class Chilopoda
• Subphylum Crustacea
• Mandibulata
• Subphylum Chelicerata
• Subphylum Trilobitomorpha
• Bibliography

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