Difference between Chilopoda and Diplopoda
Main difference
The main difference between chilopoda and diplopoda is that chilopoda contains one pair of legs on each part of the body, while the diplopoda contains two pairs of legs on each part of the body …
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
Chilopoda is a centipede, while diplopoda is a millipede. The body structure of chilopods is flat, while the body structure of diplopods is cylindrical. Chilopods consist of a flexible body; on the other hand, the diplopoda does not have a flexible body. The body length of a chilopoda is 4 to 5 inches long; conversely, the diplopoda’s body length is 1 to 8 inches long.
The chilopod is yellowish gray to brown in body color; on the other hand, the diplopoda is dark reddish brown to black in color on its body. The body of the chilopoda is divided into 15 to 100 parts; conversely, the body of the diplopoda is divided into 11 to 150 parts. Chilopods are monosegmental; on the other hand, diplopods are diplopods since there is the fusion of two adjacent segments.
There are an average of 40 legs present in chilopods; on the contrary, an average number of 400 legs are present in diplopoda. One pair of legs are present in chilopods per body segment; On the other hand, there are two pairs of diplopod legs per body segment. The chilopoda consists of long legs, while the diplopoda consists of short legs. The legs of the chilopoda extend out to the sides of its body. In contrast, the legs of diplopods do not extend to the sides of their body.
In chilopods, their legs start from the first segment of their body; on the contrary, the first three segments of diplopoda do not consist of legs. Chilopods on the top of the head consist of a long antenna, while diplopods consist of a short antenna. Chilopods using their legs move forward rapidly; on the other hand, diplopods use the wave motion of their legs to advance.
Chilopods tend to travel very fast, while diplopods tend to move very slowly. The chilopoda contains carnivorous arthropods that feed on various insects and many other small organisms. On the other hand, diplopoda contains many scavenger feeders that feed on decomposed organic matter. Chilopoda attack and kill their prey with their poisonous glands. On the contrary, diplopods when they feel any threat, they curl their body or squeeze out some acidic fluids as a defense mechanism.
Almost 50 eggs are laid at a time by the chilopod; on the other hand, diplopods lay approximately 300 eggs at a time. Chilopoda always guards her eggs and takes care of her young; on the contrary, diplopoda does not defend and nurture its young.
Comparative chart
| Chilopoda | Diplopoda |
| Chilopoda mentions that the arthropods of the myriapod class have a pair of legs for each part of the body. | Diplopoda mentions that arthropods of the class myriapods have two pairs of legs for each part of the body. |
| Common name | |
| Centipede | Millipede |
| Body structure | |
| Flat | Cylindrical |
| Flexibility | |
| Flexible body | It has no flexible body |
| Length | |
| 4 to 5 inches long | 1 to 8 inches long |
| Body color | |
| Yellowish gray to brown | Dark reddish brown to black |
| Number of body segments | |
| 15 to 100 segments | 11 to 150 segments |
| Monosegment / Diplosegment | |
| Monosegment | Diplosegment |
| Number of legs | |
| Average 40 legs | Average of 300 legs |
| Legs by body segment | |
| There is one pair of legs per body segment. | There are two pairs of legs per body segment |
| Leg length | |
| Long legs | Short legs |
| Extended sideways | |
| The legs are extended to the sides of your body. | The legs are not extended to the sides of your body. |
| Legs in the first segment | |
| The legs start from the first segment of your body. | The first three segments do not consist of legs |
| Antenna length | |
| The long antenna on the top of the head. | Short antenna |
| Type of locomotion | |
| Using your legs to advance quickly | Use the wave motion of your legs to move forward |
| Locomotion speed | |
| Very fast | Moves slowly |
| Nutrition mode | |
| They feed on insects and other small bodies. | They feed on decomposing organic matter. |
| Defense mechanism | |
| They attack and kill their prey with their poisonous glands. | When you feel any threat, curl your body or squeeze out some acidic liquids |
| Sexual reproduction | |
| The male promises packets of his sperm in the environment which are then consumed by the female. | It reproduces through mating. |
| Genital openings | |
| Opisthtogone having a single opening | Prognate by having a single opening |
| Number of eggs | |
| About 50 eggs at a time | About 300 eggs at a time |
| Egg protection and lactation | |
| Protect the eggs and nurse the young | Does not protect the eggs |
Chilopoda contains a trunk made up of many body parts, each with a pair of legs. Chilopoda belongs to the arthropod class Myriapod. Chilopods are generally known as centipedes. The chilopoda contains a flattened ventral body that is divided into a head and a trunk. The chilopoda head contains a pair of simple eyes and a large antenna on top. The legs of chilopods are formed into poisonous fangs.
Chilopoda uses its venom to kill insects in order to feed and also as a defensive mechanism because they are carnivores. They reproduce when male chilopods weave a small web in the environment to collect sperm in the form of spermatophores, which are then normally swallowed by the female chilopod. They care for and protect their young, and molt for a long time until they reach sexual maturity.
What is Diplopoda?
Diplopoda contains two pairs of legs for each part of the body. Diplopoda belongs to the arthropod class Myriapod. Diplopoda contains scavengers that feed on decaying organic matter. Diplopods are generally known as millipedes. Diplopoda contains many more legs than chilopoda.
The body of diplopods is typically cylindrical. The body of diplopoda is also divided into head and trunk. The trunk is usually segmented and the first three parts do not contain legs. The fusion of two segments forms each segment of diplopoda, so they are diplopod. The masticatory mouthparts are present in the diplopod region.
Diplopoda reproduces through mating in which the seventh part of the body has mating legs that transmit sperm to the female genital opening.
Key differences
- Chilopods are monosegmental; on the other hand, each diplopod segment is formed by the fusion of two segments, making them diplopod.
- Chilopoda is a centipede, while diplopoda is a millipede.
- The body structure of chilopods is flat, while the body structure of diplopods is cylindrical.
- Chilopods consist of a flexible body; on the other hand, the diplopoda does not have a flexible body.
- The body length of a chilopoda is 4 to 5 inches long; conversely, the diplopoda’s body length is 1 to 8 inches long.
- The chilopod is yellowish gray to brown in body color; on the other hand, the diplopoda is dark reddish brown to black in color on its body.
- The body of the chilopoda is divided into 15 to 100 parts; conversely, the body of the diplopoda is divided into 11 to 150 parts.
- There are an average of 40 legs present in chilopods; on the contrary, an average number of 400 legs are present in diplopoda.
- The chilopoda consists of long legs extended to the sides of the body, while the diplopoda consists of short legs.
- In chilopods, their legs start from the first segment of their body; on the contrary, the first three segments of diplopoda do not consist of legs.
- Chilopods on the top of the head consist of a long antenna, while diplopods consist of a short antenna.
- Chilopoda generally travels very fast, while diplopoda normally moves very slowly.
- Chilopods feed on various insects and many other small organisms; on the other hand, diplopods feed on decomposed organic matter.
- Chilopods attack and kill their prey with their poisonous glands; on the contrary, diplopods when feeling some threat, curl their body or squeeze some acidic liquids.
- Chilopods are known as opisthistogoneate, which means that they consist of a single opening present at the posterior end of the body, while diplopods are known as progoneate and only contain one opening at the anterior end of the body.
- Almost 50 eggs are laid at a time by the chilopod; on the other hand, diplopods lay approximately 300 eggs at a time.
The above discussion concludes that chilopoda contains only one pair of legs for each body segment, while diplopoda contains two pairs of legs for each body segment.
