Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
Main DifferenceThe main difference between chilopoda and diplopoda is that chilopoda contains one pair of legs in each body part, whereas diplopoda contains two pair of legs in each body part.

Difference Between Chilopoda and Diplopoda
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
The chilopoda are monosegmentic; on the other hand, each segment of diplopoda is made up of by the fusion of two segments, so they are diplosegmentic.
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
Chilopoda is a centipede, whereas diplopoda is a millipede.
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
The body structure of chilopoda is flat, while the body structure of diplopoda is cylindrical.
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
The chilopoda consist of a flexible body; on the other hand, the diplopoda does not have a flexible body.
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
The length of the body of chilopoda is 4 to 5 inches long; on the contrary, the length of the body of diplopoda is 1 to 8 inches long.
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
The chilopoda is yellowish gray to brown in the color of the body; on the flip side, the diplopoda is dark reddish-brown to black in the color of their body.
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
The body of the chilopoda splits up into 15 to 100 parts; conversely, the body of the diplopoda divides into 11 to 150 parts.
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
There are present an average number of 40 legs present in chilopoda; on the contrary, an average number of 400 legs are present in diplopoda.
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
The chilopoda consists of long legs extended sideways from the body, whereas the diplopoda consists of short legs.
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
In chilopoda, their legs start from the first segment of their body; on the contrary, the first three segments of diplopoda does not consist of legs.
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
The chilopoda on the top of their head consists of a long antenna, while diplopoda consist of a short antenna.
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
Chilopoda usually travels very fast, while diplopoda normally moves very leisurely.
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
The chilopoda feed on various insects and many other small organisms; on the flip side, diplopoda feed on decomposed organic matter.
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
Chilopoda attack and kill their prey by their poison glands; conversely, diplopoda when sensing some threat, they curl their body or squeeze on some acidic liquids.
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
Chilopoda is known as opisthogoneate, which means they consist of an only opening present at the later end of the body, whereas diplopoda are known as progoneate contains only opening at the anterior end of the body.
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
Almost 50 eggs at a time lay by the chilopoda; on the other hand, approximately 300 eggs at a time are lay by the diplopoda.
Chilopodanoun
arthropods having the trunk composed of numerous somites each bearing one pair of legs: centipedes
Diplopodanoun
arthropods having the body composed of numerous double somites each with two pairs of legs: millipedes
Comparison Chart
Chilopoda | Diplopoda |
Chilopoda mentions to the arthropods of myriapod class having a pair of legs for each body part. | Diplopoda mentions to the arthropods of myriapod class having two pairs of legs for each body part. |
Common Name | |
Centipedes | Millipedes |
Body Structure | |
Flat | Cylindrical |
Flexibility | |
Flexible body | Does not have a 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 |
Monosegmentic/Diplosegmentic | |
Monosegmentic | Diplosegmentic |
Number of Legs | |
Average 40 legs | Average of 300 legs |
Legs Per Body Segment | |
A pair of legs are present per body segment | Two pair of legs are present per body segment |
Length of the Legs | |
Long legs | Short legs |
Extended Sideways | |
The legs are extended sideways from their body | The legs are not extended sideways from their body |
Legs in the First Segment | |
Legs are starting from the first segment of their body | The first three segments do not consist of legs |
Length of the Antenna | |
The long antenna on top of the head | Short antenna |
Type of Locomotion | |
Using their legs move forward swiftly | Using the wave-like motion of their legs to move forward |
Speed of Locomotion | |
Very fast | Moves slowly |
Mode of Nutrition | |
Feed on insects and other small bodies | Feed on decomposing organic matter |
Defense Mechanism | |
Attack and kill their prey by their poison glands | When sense some threat, curl their body or squeeze on some acidic liquids |
Sexual Reproduction | |
Male pledges bundles of its sperms in the environment which are then consumed by the female | Reproduces through mating |
Genital Openings | |
Opisthogoneate having a single opening | Progoneate having a single opening |
Number of Eggs | |
Around 50 eggs at a time | Around 300 eggs at a time |
Protecting Eggs and Nursing | |
Protects eggs and nurses the young | Does not protect eggs |
Chilopoda vs. Diplopoda
Chilopoda is a centipede, whereas diplopoda is a millipede. The body structure of chilopoda is flat, while the body structure of diplopoda is cylindrical. The chilopoda consist of a flexible body; on the other hand, the diplopoda does not have a flexible body. The length of the body of chilopoda is 4 to 5 inches long; on the contrary, the length of the body of diplopoda is 1 to 8 inches long.
The chilopoda is yellowish gray to brown in the color of the body; on the flip side, the diplopoda is dark reddish-brown to black in the color of their body. The body of the chilopoda is split into 15 to 100 parts; conversely, the body of the diplopoda divides into 11 to 150 parts. The chilopoda are monosegmentic; on the other hand, diplopoda are diplosegmentic as there is the fusion of two adjacent segments.
There are present an average number of 40 legs present in chilopoda; on the contrary, an average number of 400 legs are present in diplopoda. A pair of legs are present in chilopoda per body segment; on the flip side, two pair of legs are present in diplopoda per body segment. The chilopoda consists of long legs, whereas the diplopoda consists of short legs. The legs of the chilopoda are extended sideways from their body. On the contrary, the legs of the diplopoda are not extended sideways from their body.
In chilopoda, their legs start from the first segment of their body; on the contrary, the first three segments of diplopoda does not consist of legs. The chilopoda on the top of their head consists of a long antenna, while diplopoda consist of a short antenna. Chilopoda by using their legs move forward swiftly; on the other hand, the diplopoda by using the wave-like motion of their legs to move forward.
Chilopoda usually travels very fast, while diplopoda typically moves very leisurely. The chilopoda contains carnivorous arthropods which feed on various insects and many other small organisms. On the flip side, diplopoda contains many scavenger feeders which feed on decomposed organic matter. Chilopoda attack and kill their prey by their poison glands. Conversely, diplopoda when sensing some threat they curl their body or squeeze on some acidic liquids as their defense mechanism.
The male chilopoda in the environment pledges bundles of its sperms called spermatophores which are then consumed by the female chilopoda; on the other hand, the reproduction occurs in diplopoda through mating. Chilopoda is known as opisthogoneate, which means they consist of only opening present at the later end of the body. Whereas diplopoda are known as progoneate contains only opening at the anterior end of the body.
Almost 50 eggs at a time lay by the chilopoda; on the other hand, approximately 300 eggs at a time are lay by the diplopoda. Chilopoda always guards their eggs and take care of their young ones; conversely, diplopoda does not defend and nurture their young ones.
What is Chilopoda?
Chilopoda contains a trunk formed of many body parts and each having one pair of legs. Chilopoda belongs to the class of arthropods Myriapod. The chilopoda are generally known as centipedes. The chilopoda contains a flattened ventral body which splits into head and trunk. The head of chilopoda contains a pair of simple eyes and a large antenna on the top. The legs of chilopoda are formed into poisonous fangs.
Chilopoda uses their poison to kill insects for feeding and defensive mechanism as well because they are carnivores. They reproduce when male chilopoda spin a small web in the environment to collect the sperms in the way of spermatophores, that is then normally swallowed by the female chilopoda. They nurture and protect their young ones, and they molt much time until they reach sexual maturity.
What is Diplopoda?
Diplopoda contains two pair of legs for each body part. Diplopoda belongs to the class of arthropods Myriapod. Diplopoda contains scavengers that feed on the decomposing organics matter. The diplopoda are usually known as millipedes. Diplopoda contains many more legs than chilopoda.
The body of diplopoda id typically cylindrical. The body of diplopoda also splits into head and trunk. The trunk is commonly segmented, and the first three parts do not contain legs. The fusion of two segments forms each segment of diplopoda, so they are diplosegmentic. The chewing mouthparts are present in the region of diplopoda.
Diplopoda reproduces through mating in which seventh part of the body has mating legs which transmit sperms into the female genital opening.
ConclusionAbove discussion concludes that chilopoda contains a single pair of legs for each body segment, whereas diplopoda contains two pairs of legs for each body segment.