This coil protects the millipede's head and soft underside. The toxicity of this fluid varies from species to species. For example, the excretions of some species can discolor human skin or irritate the eyes, others are corrosive, and some species even produce cyanide that can repel or kill insect predators. Millipedes have two pairs of legs per body segment, and a mature millipede averages about 40-60 segments. Baby millipedes have only a few segments at birth, but grow quickly and add two to three segments each time they molt.
Millipedes usually molt in a chamber underneath the surface of the soil.
The chamber provides shelter and protection from predators during the molting process. One way to distinguish millipedes from centipedes is by the number of legs per segment. Centipedes have only one pair of legs per segment, and the legs emerge from the sides of each segment. The legs of millipedes emerge from underneath each segment. Also, millipedes move in a straightforward manner, while centipedes move in a snake-like serpentine pattern.