Which would win in a race, a centipede or a millipede? Centipedes are much faster. Precise figures are hard to come by, but common centipede species run at comparable speeds to a spider, whereas millipedes move more at the pace of an ant.
The reason for this has nothing to do with their different numbers of legs – the leggiest centipede species have 384 legs (Himantarum gabrielis), which is more than a typical garden millipede. But almost all centipedes are hunters and have evolved legs that splay out sideways from their body, which allows a rapid rowing motion as they chase prey.
Millipedes have shorter legs tucked underneath their bodies to give them better traction as they push their way through the soil and leaf litter.
Read more:
- Why do some insects look metallic?
- How high can insects fly?
- What animals could most humans beat in a fight?
- What is the fastest animal in relation to body size?
Asked by: Charlotte Edwards, Cheltenham
To submit your questions email us at questions@sciencefocus.com (don't forget to include your name and location)
