Anamorphosis
Guides
Myriapoda
myriapods
Myriapoda is a subphylum of terrestrial arthropods comprising approximately 13,000–16,000 described species across four extant classes: Chilopoda (centipedes), Diplopoda (millipedes), Pauropoda, and Symphyla. All myriapods are obligate terrestrial, characterized by elongated bodies with numerous segments bearing legs. The group represents one of the earliest arthropod lineages to colonize land, with fossil evidence dating to the Late Silurian–Early Devonian boundary. Myriapods exhibit diverse ecological roles: centipedes are primarily nocturnal predators using venomous forcipules, while millipedes, pauropods, and symphylans function predominantly as detritivores in soil and leaf litter ecosystems.
Protura
proturans, coneheads
Protura are minute soil-dwelling hexapods, 0.6–1.5 mm in length, distinguished by their lack of eyes, wings, and antennae. They were first discovered in 1907 and were previously regarded as insects but are now classified as an order within the class Entognatha. Unique among hexapods, proturans exhibit anamorphic development, adding abdominal segments post-embryonically through successive molts until reaching the adult complement of 12 segments. Approximately 800 species have been described across seven families, with nearly 300 species in the single genus Eosentomon.