MYRIAPODA is one of the four major Arthropod divisions; a subphylum at the same taxonomic level as HEXAPODA, CHELICERATA and CRUSTACEA. It includes CHILOPODA (centipedes) and DIPLOPODA (millipedes), plus two further related groups of multi-legged creatures, Symphyla and Pauropoda.

 

These higher-ranking divisions would normally be ignored when labelling species as, in most cases, identity only needs to start with the taxonomic order, but with MYRIAPODA everything is effectively one step higher on the ladder, which means that both CHILOPODA and DIPLOPODA have the same ranking as INSECTA and ARACHNIDA.

 

It's an important point to bear in mind when looking at the classification used here, as it's all too easy to view the order as a family, and the family as a subfamily. In fact, there are no subfamilies, as the family is the lowest taxon used in this structure which utilises orders as the primary division for separating the different forms of species. The families add another level of separation, but given that there are a number of orders with just one or two families, they seem almost incidental.

 

In an effort to keep the following pages as concise and relevant as possible, I've only included the taxonomic orders for the species I've actually seen and photographed. I knew virtually nothing about these species when I first started looking at soil macrofauna and, as such, am very grateful for the help and encouragement I received from Consultant Ecologist and Entomologist, Steve Gregory, who runs the BMIG (British Myriapod and Isopod Group) Recording Scheme. I would have struggled identifying many of these species if it wasn't for the BMIG website and associated FB Group.

 

Clicking the images below will take you to a separate page including a fair amount of general information together with individual accounts for all the species I've currently seen and photographed.