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Which animals belong to the Myriapoda subphylum?

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The subphylum Myriapoda is a group of terrestrial invertebrates within the phylum Arthropoda. These animals are characterized by having a head with one pair of antennae, mandibles, and one or two pairs of maxillae, along with a segmented trunk bearing jointed appendages.12

The subphylum includes the following classes of animals:

  • Chilopoda: Commonly known as centipedes, these are elongate animals with many trunk segments, each bearing a single pair of legs.12
  • Diplopoda: Known as millipedes, these creatures possess many diplosegments, with each segment bearing two pairs of legs.12
  • Symphyla: These small, centipede-like animals typically have 12 leg-bearing trunk segments.12
  • Pauropoda: A group of minute, soft-bodied myriapods characterized by branched antennae and 9 to 11 trunk segments.12

Additionally, the subphylum includes the extinct group known as Archipolypoda. Myriapods are primarily found in moist environments, such as beneath stones, logs, and in leaf mold, where they play a significant role in the ecological balance of forested regions.13