Our human body is made up of countless cells, organs, blood and veins. Each of us from birth has eyes, a pair of ears, a pair of arms and legs, and more. These parts of the body help us throughout life. They are very important for a full life. People and animals have completely different respiratory organs, the digestive system and the reproductive organs.
Some animals on Earth are largely dependent on their many legs. They use them not only for movement, but also as self-defense and attack. With their help, they can catch prey or transfer anything. Some of them live on the earth and can dig out a shelter with the help of an extra pair of legs. We have selected for you the 10 best animals with numerous legs.
1
Various insects
There are many different insects that we encounter daily, but we don’t know much about them. Ants, various bugs and simple flies also have many legs for movement and other purposes. Mosquitoes use their numerous legs to conveniently suck blood from us. Mostly they have 6 legs.
Insects, like bugs or ants, drag their food with their feet or build their houses. Their legs also give them protection from enemies and much more.
2
Spiders
We often meet spiders in our homes or at work. But have you ever counted how many legs spiders have? Most spiders have eight legs. Their legs are used for fast movement, they also allow spiders to jump high. In addition, the legs help them to weave the web correctly. For some, the legs are the most powerful weapon in the arsenal against enemies. Also, they kick the victim in a cocoon, then to feast on. Some spiders kick poison into the victim’s body.
By the way, about the most poisonous spiders in the world there is an interesting article on our site thebiggest.ru.
3
Crabs
These arthropods feel free both on land and in water. They have a powerful and thick shell that protects the body. Their legs are so well formed that they can easily move on land, as well as swim in the water. With their feet, they easily dig holes for themselves, and also protect themselves from enemies, of which they have many.
Crabs feed on small worms, crustaceans and plankton. They can quickly run across rocks and caves. Crabs are widely used in the world as food, and some of them are consumed alive.
4
Woodlice
Next on our list are wood lice. These animals are a suborder of crustaceans with a long carapace and 14 articulated limbs. In the world there are more than 5000 species of wood lice. They belong to the family of wood lice and the genus of isopods.
Woodlice have seven pairs of legs and 11 segments of the shell. Mostly live on land. They like wet places, hide under pebbles or in cracks. Woodlice generally feed on dead decaying plants. Many probably met wood lice and at home. If you notice them, then this is a sign that somewhere there is increased humidity or dampness. They can also often be seen in spring, when the frost recedes and gets warmer.
5
Caterpillars
A caterpillar is the larval stage of an adult insect or animal. We wrote about them in detail in an article about the largest caterpillars in the world. Caterpillars feed on both leaves and animal products. These creatures have a soft, elastic body, and their length can be from 1 mm to 12 cm. They have 5 pairs of limbs. Caterpillars turn into butterflies or moths when they grow. These creatures have pointed paws, which they use to move on any surface on the ground, branches or leaves of trees.
They can even injure a person with their feet, leaving skin rashes. In recent decades, cases of human bites by caterpillars have become more frequent in Brazil. Some species can leave whole burns on the body that are very difficult to heal.
6
Symphiles
Next on the list is one of the most dangerous centipedes on earth - a symphile. They have 12 pairs of legs and a very dangerous poison, which can have a strong effect on humans. They can grow up to 30 cm long.
Simfil can be found anywhere. Usually they are red or brown. To survive, they need plenty of moisture, so they live between stones, crevices or in decayed foliage. The legs of these creatures grow evenly with the development of the body.
7
Centipedes or Diplopods
The next no less interesting creatures are centipedes. They belong to the group of arthropods, which have many articulated legs. Centipedes have long, cylindrical bodies that consist of more than 20 segments. Although the number of legs can reach up to 170 pairs, they move at a low speed, and they use mushrooms or plant juice as food. Some species in California have a record number of legs — 350 pairs or 700 legs!
Their bodies are coated with a solid calcified substance that makes predators difficult to hunt for them and also protects their legs.
8
Centipede - Haploophilus subterraneus
Haploophilus subterraneus has one of the longest bodies among similar creatures. They can be up to 7 cm long. These centipedes can have between 75 and 85 pairs of limbs. Usually they are pale in color, from yellow to gray, and the head is slightly wider than the body.
9
Centipede Himuntarum Gabrielis
Another species of centipedes that have 356 paws. These animals can grow up to 20-22 cm in length. Long legs are located along the entire body. Body color - from dirty yellow to brown.
10
Centipede Illacme plenipes
We have already talked about this type of centipedes. So far, they have been able to detect them only in central California. The creature is interesting in that it has the largest number of legs in the world - up to 750. It was first discovered in 1927 and until 2005 there was no news of the animal. It is worth mentioning right away that only females can boast of such a large set of legs. The males also have a lot of them, but fewer - 300 - 400 legs.
They feed on mushrooms and the juice of rotten plants. Their mouth is adapted to suck out liquid and break off small pieces, such as mushrooms. The intestine itself stretches along the entire body, nourishing all the organs of the body.
Conclusion
So we met the champions of the animal world by the number of legs. And what many-legged animals do you most often see? Write your answers in the comments to this article.