Which Arthropods Move Faster: Centipedes or Millipedes?

Which of the following statements are true when comparing centipedes and millipedes?

a. Centipedes are predators and move faster than millipedes

b. Centipedes are herbivores and move faster than millipedes

c. Millipedes are herbivores and move faster than centipedes

d. Millipedes are predators and move slower than centipedes

Answer:

Centipedes, being predators, move faster than millipedes.

When comparing centipedes and millipedes, the true statement is that centipedes are predators and move faster than millipedes. Centipedes, classified under Chilipoda, bear one pair of legs per segment and are notoriously predatory, primarily feeding on spiders and cockroaches. They are somewhat dorsoventrally flattened and have been observed to move quicker compared to millipedes.

Conversely, millipedes are typically herbivores or detritivores, and they bear two pairs of legs per diplosegment, a feature that results from the embryonic fusion of adjacent body segments. These arthropods are usually rounder in cross-section than centipedes, and while they have visibly more numbers of legs, they generally move at a slower pace due to their design and lifestyle.

Therefore, if you're looking for speedy arthropods, centipedes take the lead with their predatory nature and quick movements. Millipedes, on the other hand, may be slower but play important roles in ecosystems as decomposers and herbivores. Both creatures have their unique characteristics and contribute in their own ways to the biodiversity of our planet.