Ecology
Associations
Known predators
Diplopoda (millipede) is prey of:
Amphisbaena caeca
Eleutherodactylus coqui
Eleutherodactylus richmondi
Eleutherodactylus portoricensis
Eleutherodactylus wightmanae
Todus mexicanus
Margarops fuscatus
Anolis gundlachi
Leptodactylus albilabris
Sphaerodactylus klauberi
Diploglossus pleei
Diptera
Falco sparverius
Anolis gingivinus
Based on studies in:
Puerto Rico, El Verde (Rainforest)
This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.
Amphisbaena caeca
Eleutherodactylus coqui
Eleutherodactylus richmondi
Eleutherodactylus portoricensis
Eleutherodactylus wightmanae
Todus mexicanus
Margarops fuscatus
Anolis gundlachi
Leptodactylus albilabris
Sphaerodactylus klauberi
Diploglossus pleei
Diptera
Falco sparverius
Anolis gingivinus
Based on studies in:
Puerto Rico, El Verde (Rainforest)
This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.
© SPIRE project
Source:
SPIRE
Trusted
Known prey organisms
Diplopoda (millipede) preys on:
detritus
Eleutherodactylus coqui
Orthoptera
Auchenorrhyncha
Sternorrhyncha
fungi
Plantae
roots
Based on studies in:
USA: New Jersey (Agricultural)
Puerto Rico, El Verde (Rainforest)
This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.
detritus
Eleutherodactylus coqui
Orthoptera
Auchenorrhyncha
Sternorrhyncha
fungi
Plantae
roots
Based on studies in:
USA: New Jersey (Agricultural)
Puerto Rico, El Verde (Rainforest)
This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.
© SPIRE project
Source:
SPIRE
Trusted
Associations
Animal / parasite / endoparasite
larva of Hymenolepis scalaris endoparasitises Diplopoda
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Animal / dung saprobe
colony of Umbelopsis ramanniana is saprobic in/on dung or excretions of dung of Diplopoda
larva of Hymenolepis scalaris endoparasitises Diplopoda
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Animal / dung saprobe
colony of Umbelopsis ramanniana is saprobic in/on dung or excretions of dung of Diplopoda
© BioImages
Trusted
Evolution and Systematics
Functional Adaptations
Functional adaptation
Many legs provide thrust for burrowing: millipede
"A millipede advances along a twig. Although renowned for the number of their legs, even the longest millipedes have only about 680 legs, and most species have far fewer. You might expect that an animal with so many legs would move very fast, but the millipede's legs are so short and its fat body so close to the ground that its legs take only short strides at a time. Nevertheless, they can deliver considerable thrust, and millipedes are strong enough to burrow into the ground very efficiently…The leg movement of the millipede occurs in a wave along the body: certain groups of legs are moving forwards as others are thrusting backwards. At any given time there are always some legs in contact with the ground at intervals along its body." (Foy and Oxford Scientific Films 1982:45)
Watch Video
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
The many short legs of a millipede provide thrust for burrowing as the leg movements follow a wave along the body.
"A millipede advances along a twig. Although renowned for the number of their legs, even the longest millipedes have only about 680 legs, and most species have far fewer. You might expect that an animal with so many legs would move very fast, but the millipede's legs are so short and its fat body so close to the ground that its legs take only short strides at a time. Nevertheless, they can deliver considerable thrust, and millipedes are strong enough to burrow into the ground very efficiently…The leg movement of the millipede occurs in a wave along the body: certain groups of legs are moving forwards as others are thrusting backwards. At any given time there are always some legs in contact with the ground at intervals along its body." (Foy and Oxford Scientific Films 1982:45)
Watch Video
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
- Foy, Sally; Oxford Scientific Films. 1982. The Grand Design: Form and Colour in Animals. Lingfield, Surrey, U.K.: BLA Publishing Limited for J.M.Dent & Sons Ltd, Aldine House, London. 238 p.
© The Biomimicry Institute
Source:
AskNature
Trusted
Molecular Biology and Genetics
Barcode
Locations of barcode samples
Collection Sites: world map showing specimen collection locations for Diplopoda 
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
Trusted
Statistics of barcoding coverage
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
| Specimen Records: | 1,084 |
| Specimens with Sequences: | 618 |
| Specimens with Barcodes: | 582 |
| Public Records: | 3 |
| Species: | 167 |
| Species With Barcodes: | 133 |
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
Trusted
Barcode data
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
Trusted
Disclaimer
EOL content is automatically assembled from many different content providers. As a result, from time to time you may find pages on EOL that are confusing.
To request an improvement, please leave a comment on the page. Thank you!
