Centipedes and millipedes belong to the subphylum of arthropods called myriapoda. In Greek, myriapoda means "countless feet." Myriapods share the basic body structure of a head and segmented body, or trunk, with many legs.
Scientists estimate that there are around 8,000 species of centipedes and 80,000 species of millipedes. "We have a wealth of diversity" within these groups, said Derek Hennen, an entomologist and doctoral student at Virginia Tech. The diversity of centipedes and millipedes may not be obvious to nonexperts, Hennen said, because many species of these arthropods are found in only a limited range.
Noticeable differences
Behavior is one of the easiest ways to tell if a many-legged critter discovered under a log or a pile of dead leaves is a centipede or a millipede. "If it runs away immediately, it will be a centipede. If it curls up and stays motionless, it will be a millipede," Hennen said.
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