Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Diplopoda (Millipedes)

Millipedes, like centipedes, have bodies that comprise of numerous segments. The head has a pair of antennae, the mouth parts and, in some species, a pair of eyes. The first four thoracic segments each has a single pair of legs and the following abdominal segments each has two pairs of legs. Millipedes don't have poisonous fangs and don't bite. Instead, they roll into a defensive ball and many species emit toxic or foul-smelling secretions from a row of defensive glands to repel predators. In a few species, these secretions can cause irritation and even blistering of human skin. Millipedes do not have a waxy waterproof layer on their cuticle so their habitat tends to be limited to damp or moist environments. Most millipedes feed exclusively on decaying plant material (detritus) and are adapted for burrowing in it so they fill an important ecological niche by breaking up accumulated detritus, thus helping microbial decomposition and soil nutrient cycles.