Questions about Diplopoda (millipedes)
Multiple-Choice Questions on Diplopoda (Animal Kingdom)
1. Diplopoda is a class belonging to which phylum?
A) Mollusca
B) Arthropoda
C) Annelida
D) Platyhelminthes
E) Echinodermata
2. What is the common name for animals in the class Diplopoda?
A) Centipedes
B) Earthworms
C) Millipedes
D) Woodlice
E) Slugs
3. How many pairs of legs do millipedes typically have per body segment?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) Varies randomly
4. What type of symmetry do diplopods exhibit?
A) Radial
B) Bilateral
C) Asymmetrical
D) Spherical
E) Spiral
5. What is the main function of the exoskeleton in millipedes?
A) Energy storage
B) Digestion
C) Protection and support
D) Reproduction
E) Respiration
6. Millipedes are primarily:
A) Carnivores
B) Omnivores
C) Herbivores
D) Detritivores
E) Parasites
7. What type of environment do millipedes prefer?
A) Hot, dry deserts
B) Open grasslands
C) Aquatic ecosystems
D) Dark, moist habitats
E) Treetops
8. Which defense mechanism is commonly used by millipedes?
A) Venomous claws
B) Speed and agility
C) Releasing toxic or irritating chemicals
D) Camouflage with leaves
E) Jumping
9. Millipedes differ from centipedes in that they:
A) Have one pair of legs per segment
B) Are faster and more aggressive
C) Are primarily herbivorous or detritivorous
D) Have venomous fangs
E) Are aquatic animals
10. What is the function of the collum in millipedes?
A) Eye protection
B) Mating
C) First body segment behind the head that lacks legs
D) Leg regeneration
E) Poison production
11. What structure do millipedes use to breathe?
A) Lungs
B) Gills
C) Skin
D) Tracheae connected to spiracles
E) Book lungs
12. How do millipedes reproduce?
A) External fertilization in water
B) Asexual budding
C) Internal fertilization
D) Binary fission
E) Parthenogenesis
13. Which of the following is not true about millipedes?
A) They have cylindrical or slightly flattened bodies
B) They are very fast-moving predators
C) They are generally harmless to humans
D) They coil up as a defense mechanism
E) They play a role in nutrient cycling
14. What is the main ecological role of diplopods?
A) Pollinators
B) Parasites of mammals
C) Decomposers
D) Primary consumers
E) Predators
15. Millipedes have how many antennae?
A) None
B) One pair
C) Two pairs
D) Three pairs
E) Four
16. The body of a millipede is divided into:
A) Head and tail
B) Thorax and abdomen
C) Cephalothorax and abdomen
D) Head and trunk
E) Neck and body
17. What is the number of legs of a millipede dependent on?
A) Its weight
B) Its gender
C) Its environment
D) Its species and age
E) Its diet
18. How do millipedes typically move?
A) By crawling sideways
B) In a jump-like motion
C) Slowly with a wave-like leg motion
D) By gliding on mucus
E) By swimming
19. What structure helps millipedes sense their surroundings?
A) Eyes only
B) Spiracles
C) Antennae
D) Chelicerae
E) Wings
20. Which of the following animals is most closely related to millipedes?
A) Snails
B) Spiders
C) Insects
D) Flatworms
E) Crustaceans
Answers with Explanations
1. B) Arthropoda
Diplopoda is a class within the phylum Arthropoda, which includes animals with jointed appendages and exoskeletons.
2. C) Millipedes
Diplopods are commonly known as millipedes.
3. B) 2
Each body segment in a millipede typically has two pairs of legs (a key feature).
4. B) Bilateral
Millipedes have bilateral symmetry, meaning their left and right sides are mirror images.
5. C) Protection and support
The exoskeleton provides defense and structural support.
6. D) Detritivores
Millipedes mainly feed on decaying plant matter, aiding in decomposition.
7. D) Dark, moist habitats
They thrive in damp environments like under logs, soil, and leaf litter.
8. C) Releasing toxic or irritating chemicals
Millipedes secrete defensive chemicals like hydrogen cyanide to deter predators.
9. C) Are primarily herbivorous or detritivorous
Unlike carnivorous centipedes, millipedes feed on decomposing organic matter.
10. C) First body segment behind the head that lacks legs
The collum is legless and helps protect the head.
11. D) Tracheae connected to spiracles
Like other arthropods, millipedes breathe through spiracles and a tracheal system.
12. C) Internal fertilization
Fertilization is internal; males may transfer sperm directly or via spermatophores.
13. B) They are very fast-moving predators
Millipedes are slow and not predators. That describes centipedes instead.
14. C) Decomposers
Millipedes break down dead plant matter and recycle nutrients in ecosystems.
15. B) One pair
They have a single pair of short antennae used for sensing.
16. D) Head and trunk
The body is divided into a head and a long trunk with repeated segments.
17. D) Its species and age
Leg number increases as the millipede grows and varies among species.
18. C) Slowly with a wave-like leg motion
Their coordinated leg movement creates a smooth, wave-like crawl.
19. C) Antennae
Antennae detect chemicals, vibrations, and physical obstacles.
20. C) Insects
Both millipedes and insects are arthropods and share more recent ancestry than other listed animals.
Practical Classroom Applications
- Compare millipedes with centipedes and insects in arthropod classification lessons.
- Explore decomposition and nutrient cycling in soil ecosystems.
- Discuss invertebrate adaptations related to survival and defense.
- Apply biodiversity concepts in environmental science activities.
- Use anatomy and reproduction questions to reinforce zoology vocabulary.
- Create classroom discussions about ecosystem balance and terrestrial habitats.
- Develop critical thinking through taxonomy and ecological interactions.
- Use the material for biology reviews, STEM projects, and assessments.
Share Social !
