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Pauropod facts for kids

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Pauropoda
Temporal range: Eocene to Recent
Pauropus huxleyi.jpg
Pauropus huxleyi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Myriapoda
Class:
Pauropoda

Lubbock, 1868
Order:
Pauropodina
Families
  • Afrauropodidae
  • Brachypauropodidae
  • Millotauropodidae
  • Pauropodidae

Pauropods are a type of myriapod. They form the only order in the class Pauropoda. About 500 species in four families are found worldwide, living in soil and leaf mold.

Description

Pauropoda are tiny soil myriapods, 0.5-1.5mm in length, with 8-11 body segments. The body appears to have fewer segments when viewed from above, because the dorsal shields (tergites) are fused in pairs. The true segments can be seen from the ventral side, each segment bearing a single pair of walking legs. A characteristic feature of pauropods is their branched antennae.

Images for kids

  • Pauropus amicus

    Ventral and dorsal views of Pauropus amicus from New South Wales, Australia.

  • Eurypauropus

    Two pauropods of the genus Eurypauropus.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Paurópodos para niños

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Pauropod Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.