Julida
Julida is an order of millipedes with elongated, cylindrical bodies and numerous segments. Its species occur mainly in the Northern Hemisphere.
Millipede: A millipede is a many-legged, segmented arthropod in the class Diplopoda. Julida is one order within this broader millipede class.
Millipede locomotion: The coordinated movement produced by successive leg pairs along a millipede's segmented trunk. Waves of leg motion propel the long, cylindrical julid body.
Detritivore: An organism that obtains energy by consuming dead organic material. Julids feed chiefly on decaying plant matter and contribute to detritus processing.
Polydesmida: An order of millipedes commonly recognized by flattened bodies and lateral paranota. Its flattened form contrasts with the cylindrical bodies typical of Julida.
Diplopod body plan: The body plan shared by millipedes, typically with a head, trunk, and many paired-leg segments. Its repeated trunk segments give julid millipedes their characteristic elongated shape.
Millipede coiling: A defensive posture in which a millipede curls its body into a coil. Many julids coil when disturbed, shielding their softer underside.
Decomposition: The breakdown of dead organic matter into simpler substances by biological and chemical processes. Julids fragment leaf litter, making it more available to decomposers.
Spirobolida: An order of large, cylindrical millipedes found chiefly in tropical and subtropical regions. Both orders are cylindrical, but Spirobolida is centered outside Julida's main Northern Hemisphere range.
Diplosegment: A millipede trunk unit formed by the fusion of two embryonic segments, usually bearing two pairs of legs. Diplosegments account for the many paired legs along a julid trunk.
Julidae: A diverse family of cylindrical millipedes within the order Julida. Julidae contains many familiar julid species and illustrates the order's diversity.