Pauropod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids PauropodaTemporal range: Eocene to Recent
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| Pauropus huxleyi | |
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Pauropoda
Lubbock, 1868
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Pauropodina
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Pauropods are tiny creatures that belong to a group called myriapods. This group also includes millipedes and centipedes. Pauropods are the only members of their special class, called Pauropoda. There are about 500 different kinds, or species, of pauropods found all over the world. They usually live in the soil and under leaf litter, which is a layer of dead leaves and plants on the ground.
What are Pauropods Like?
Pauropods are very small, usually only about 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters long. That's less than the tip of a pencil! They have bodies made up of 8 to 11 parts, called segments.
When you look at a pauropod from above, it might seem like it has fewer segments. This is because some of their top body plates, called dorsal shields, are joined together in pairs. But if you look at their underside, you can see the real number of segments. Each segment has one pair of walking legs.
One special thing about pauropods is their antennae. Unlike many other creatures, their antennae are branched, meaning they split into two parts. This helps them feel their way around in the dark soil.
Images for kids
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Ventral and dorsal views of Pauropus amicus from New South Wales, Australia.
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Two pauropods of the genus Eurypauropus.
See also
In Spanish: Paurópodos para niños
