Myriapoda

• Myriapoda


  Subphylum (many feet)
• Myriapods


  • 2 body tagmata: head and trunk
  • Antennae, mandible and maxilla
  • Most with a pair of lateral compound eyes
  • Many appendages
  • They have to molt
  • They lack waxed coating on cuticle
  • Most of the hexapods have wax on cuticle
  • Prevents water from evaporating
  • This means these are restricted to moist environments
  • Indirect copulation
  • Trunk with uniramous (uni=one, rami= branch) appendages on each segment
• Uniramous


  One branch
• Biramous


  Two branch
• Class chilopoda (Centipedes)


  • Chilo= jaw
  • Poda= foot
  • Most are carnivores
  • Posses venom that can paralyze prey
  • Forcipule (synapomorphy)
  • First leg is modified to seize prey and secrete venom
  • Only know instance of arthropod with venom- secreting first leg
  • This modification evolved early, found in 420 million year old centipede fossils
• Class diplopoda (Millipedes)


  • Di= double
  • Poda= foot
  • They have two pairs of appendage in each of their segments
  • No venom glands because they are herbivores, detritus feeders
  • Toxin is a defense mechanism, venom glands
  • Bright color- alert them to not touch them
  • Most have repugnatorial glands which secrete variety of toxic, repellant secretions
• Class symphyla and pauropoda


  • Small terrestrial, live in soil, damp habitats
  • Lack eyes