Because of the numerous legs, the animals walk slowly, with a wavelike motion of the legs down the body. They grow by molting and may live for one to seven years. Millipedes shun light and are very secretive. Millipedes move by exerting a powerful pushing force, that enables them to push their way through humus, loose soil, and leaves. The force is exerted entirely through legs, with a backward pushing stroke that is activated in waves along the length of the body.
Millipedes also use a head-on pushing motion that allows it to burrow in the dirt.
The most number of legs ever counted on a millipede is 752. The Giant Millipede is found throughout the world, especially in the tropics. Our millipede is a Madagascar milllipede, from the island Madagascar off the East coast of Africa. Its many legs do not make it speedy, and in facts millipedes are slower than centipedes. However, their legs do supply power neede to burrow into the ground, where they eat decaying vegetation.