Millipedes are found all over the world but are most common in tropical areas. Unlike their name indicates do not have a thousand legs, They do, however, have thirty or more pairs of legs. You find them under logs and stones, in moist soil and under leaf litter. They usually avoid light.

Millipedes are distinguished from centipedes by the presence of two pairs of legs per body segment. They shun the light and tend to hide under logs and other debris, and will often burrow into the ground. Their hard exoskeleton affords some protection against predators. When threatened, they will coil up in a ball to protect the more vulnerable underside. Some also have a noxious secretion used to deter predators. Eyesight is poor to non-existent in millipedes. They sense by way of their antennae which continually tap the ground as the millipede moves along.

The millipedes will periodically molt, shedding their exoskeleton. This is a vulnerable time for the animals. Millipedes molt in cells in the soil and with each molt, more body segments and legs are added. Millipedes mature within one or two years, depending on the species. Growth continues even after sexual maturity is attained. The maximum age of a millipede is probably about 5 to 10 years, depending on the species.