Sep 9, 2026 · 9 min · 9 segments
Why the millipede doesn't have a thousand feet, why it curls up – and what important role it plays in the cycle of nature. This episode is about an animal many have seen on safari—but often only…
And here's a clarification right away.
The name is a bit of an exaggeration.
Not a single animal in this group actually has a thousand feet.
Biologically speaking, the millipede is not a single species, but an entire class, the diplopoda.
The name comes from the fact that on most body segments, there aren't just one pair of legs, but two, because over the course of evolution, two segments fused into one.
In southern Africa alone, there are several hundred species of millipedes.
from small, barely visible specimens to the large black giant millipedes.
On safari, you often see them crossing the road after a rain.
The origin of the name is often said to be a verb related to curling up or rolling together.
And that, of course, fits very well with the behavior of millipedes.
But I'll get to that a little later.
The body of the millipede is long, cylindrical, and divided into many segments.
In the case of the large African giant millipedes, there are usually around 60 to 70 segments.
Most segments have two pairs of legs, meaning four legs per segment.
A fully grown African giant millipede thus has about 250 legs.
Some species around the world surpass that by quite a bit.
The record holder has over 700 legs.
But not a single species reaches a thousand, as the name suggests.
The body is surrounded by a shell made of chitin.
In many species, the shell is additionally reinforced with calcareous material.
That makes it sturdy, and it's almost like a little suit of armor.
This armor helps the millipede push its way through soil and humus and also protects it from some predators.
It uses its antennae as sensory organs.
With them, it constantly taps the ground in front of it.
And here's a clarification right away.
The name is a bit of an exaggeration.
Not a single animal in this group actually has a thousand feet.
Biologically speaking, the millipede is not a single species, but an entire class, the diplopoda.
The name comes from the fact that on most body segments, there aren't just one pair of legs, but two, because over the course of evolution, two segments fused into one.
In southern Africa alone, there are several hundred species of millipedes.
from small, barely visible specimens to the large black giant millipedes.
On safari, you often see them crossing the road after a rain.
The origin of the name is often said to be a verb related to curling up or rolling together.
And that, of course, fits very well with the behavior of millipedes.
But I'll get to that a little later.
The body of the millipede is long, cylindrical, and divided into many segments.
In the case of the large African giant millipedes, there are usually around 60 to 70 segments.
Most segments have two pairs of legs, meaning four legs per segment.
A fully grown African giant millipede thus has about 250 legs.
Some species around the world surpass that by quite a bit.
The record holder has over 700 legs.
But not a single species reaches a thousand, as the name suggests.
The body is surrounded by a shell made of chitin.
In many species, the shell is additionally reinforced with calcareous material.
That makes it sturdy, and it's almost like a little suit of armor.
This armor helps the millipede push its way through soil and humus and also protects it from some predators.
It uses its antennae as sensory organs.
With them, it constantly taps the ground in front of it.
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