Centipedes are long, flattened creatures that have a pair of legs on each body segment. They also possess poison claws and can potentially give people a painful bite. Centipedes are predators.

Millipedes differ from centipedes by having two pairs of legs on each body segment. They do not possess poison claws. Millipedes feed on decaying organic matter

Centipedes and millipedes are strictly terrestrial but are distant relatives of lobsters, crayfish and shrimp. They prefer moist habitats or areas of high humidity and a few species turn up in people’s houses.