Polydesmida Milliped, Yasuni National Park, Ecuador

Description

Polydesmida is the largest order of millipedes, containing approximately 3,500 species, including all the millipedes reported to produce hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Polydesmids have no eyes, and vary in length from 3 to 130 mm. Including the telson, adults have 19 or 20 rings. Polydesmids are very common in leaf litter, where they burrow by levering with the anterior end of the body.