The following is a list of selected animals in order of increasing number of legs, from 0 legs to 653 pairs of legs, the maximum recorded in the animal kingdom. [1] Each entry provides the relevant taxa up to the rank of phylum. Each entry also provides the common name of the animal. If the relevant taxon includes different animals with different common names, then the entry provides the common name of a familiar example.
If juveniles have fewer legs than adults, then the animal is listed by the number of legs recorded in mature adults. If this number varies among adults within the taxon, then this variation is noted in a comment. In counting legs, this list follows conventions adopted in the relevant literature. For example, millipedes with gonopods are listed by numbers that exclude leg pairs that become gonopods, but numbers for millipedes with telopods include leg pairs that become telopods. [2] [3] [4]
Animals have been selected so that each number from 0 to 55 leg pairs has one example listed. Each of these examples is listed by a number closely associated with the relevant taxon, either because that number is the one most commonly observed in that taxon or because that number is one of only a few recorded for the taxon. Beyond 55 leg pairs, intraspecific variation in leg number increases, and the association between species and any particular number breaks down. [5] [6] Beyond 55 leg pairs, examples are listed only if they represent especially significant maximum numbers (e.g., most legs in the animal kingdom) or exhibit relatively little intraspecific variation in leg number.
This list draws examples from three broad groups of animals: tetrapods (with 0 to 2 leg pairs, [7] [8] providing three examples), velvet worms (with 13 to 43 leg pairs, [9] providing ten examples), and arthropods (adults with 3 to 653 leg pairs, [10] [1] providing all the other examples). Four classes of arthropods each provide multiple examples, including sea spiders (adults with 4 to 6 leg pairs, [11] providing two examples) and pauropods (adults with 8 to 11 leg pairs, [12] providing four examples), but most of the examples listed are either millipedes (adults with 11 to 653 leg pairs) [5] [1] or centipedes (adults with 15 to 191 leg pairs). [5] Most of the millipede examples come from two orders, Polydesmida (flat-backed millipedes, providing four examples) and Chordeumatida (sausage millipedes, providing eight examples), each with some variation in leg number among species but little variation within species. [3] Nearly all of the centipede examples come from only one order, Geophilomorpha (soil centipedes), which exhibits wide variation in leg number among species (from 27 to 191 leg pairs). [13] Nearly all of the examples from the order Geophilomorpha come from three families of soil centipedes (Mecistocephalidae, Schendylidae, and Geophilidae) that exhibit relatively little intraspecific variation in leg number. [14] [6]
| Number of legs | Taxa | Common name | Comments | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Serpentes (suborder), Squamata (order), Reptilia (class), Tetrapoda (superclass), Vertebrata (subphylum), Chordata (phylum) [7] | snake | ||
| 1 pair | Aves (class), Tetrapoda (superclass), Vertebrata (subphylum), Chordata (phylum) [15] | bird | ||
| 2 pairs | Tetrapoda (superclass), Vertebrata (subpylum), Chordata (phylum) [8] | mammal, for example | 2 pairs in most species; some taxa have fewer | |
| 3 pairs | Hexapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [10] | insect, for example | ||
| 4 pairs | Arachnida (class), Chelicerata (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [10] | spider, for example | ||
| 5 pairs | Pentapycnon (genus), Pycnogonidae (family), Pantopoda (order), Pycnogonida (class), Chelicerata (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [16] | sea spider | ||
| 6 pairs | Sexanymphon mirabilis (monotypic genus & species), Nymphonidae (family), Pantopoda (order), Pycnogonida (class), Chelicerata (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [17] | sea spider | ||
| 7 pairs | Isopoda (order), Malacostraca (class), Crustacea (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [10] | woodlouse, for example | 7 pairs in most species; some taxa have fewer [18] | |
| 8 pairs | Aletopauropus (genus), Brachypauropodidae (family), Tetramerocerata (order), Pauropoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [12] | pauropod | ||
| 9 pairs | Tetramerocerata (order), Pauropoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | pauropod | 9 pairs in most species; some taxa deviate from this number [3] [12] | |
| 10 pairs | Decapauropus cuenoti (genus & type species), Pauropodidae (family), Tetramerocerata (order), Pauropoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | pauropod | 9 or 10 pairs in females (usually 9); 9 pairs in males [19] | |
| 11 pairs | Millotauropus (genus), Millotauropodidae (monotypic family), Hexamerocerata (monotypic order), Pauropoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [3] [12] | pauropod | ||
| 12 pairs | Symphyla (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | symphylan | 12 pairs in most species; some taxa have fewer [20] | |
| 13 pairs | Polyxenida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | bristly millipede | 13 pairs in most species; some taxa deviate from this number [21] | |
| 14 pairs | Ooperipatellus viridimaculatus (genus & species), Peripatopsidae (family), Onychophora (phylum) [22] | velvet worm | ||
| 15 pairs | Scutigeromorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [23] | house centipede | ||
| 16 pairs | Peripatoides suteri (genus & species), Peripatopsidae (family), Onychophora (phylum) [24] | velvet worm | ||
| 17 pairs | Glomerida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | northern pill millipede | 17 pairs in females; 19 pairs in males (including 1 pair or 2 pairs of telopods) [25] | |
| 18 pairs | Peripatopsis alba (genus & species), Peripatopsidae (family), Onychophora (phylum) [26] | velvet worm | ||
| 19 pairs | Typhloperipatus williamsoni (monotypic genus & species), Peripatidae (family), Onychophora (phylum) | velvet worm | minimum in family; [9] 19 or 20 pairs in males (usually 19); 20 pairs in females [27] | |
| 20 pairs | Peripatopsis collarium (genus & species), Peripatopsidae (family), Onychophora (phylum) [28] | velvet worm | ||
| 21 pairs | Sphaerotheriida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | giant pill millipede | 21 pairs in females; 23 pairs in males (including 2 pairs of telopods) [25] | |
| 22 pairs | Metaperipatus inae (genus & species), Peripatopsidae (family), Onychophora (phylum) | velvet worm | 22 pairs in females; 20 pairs in males [9] | |
| 23 pairs | Scolopocryptopidae (family), Scolopendromorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [23] | bark centipede | ||
| 24 pairs | Eoperipatus totoro (genus & species), Peripatidae (family), Onychophora (phylum) | velvet worm | 24 pairs in females; 23 pairs in males [29] | |
| 25 pairs | Eoperipatus horsti (genus & species), Peripatidae (family), Onychophora (phylum) | velvet worm | 24 or 25 pairs in females; 23 or 24 pairs in males (usually 23) [30] [31] | |
| 26 pairs | Agenodesmus reticulatus (genus & type species), Fuhrmannodesmidae (family), Polydesmida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | flat-backed millipede | 26 pairs in males (excluding 1 pair of gonopods); 27 pairs in females [3] | |
| 27 pairs | Schendylops ramirezi (genus & species), Schendylidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | soil centipede | minimum in order; 27 pairs in males; 29 pairs in females [13] | |
| 28 pairs | Brachydesmus superus (genus & species), Polydesmidae (family), Polydesmida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | flat-backed millipede | 28 pairs in males (excluding 1 pair of gonopods); 29 pairs in females [2] [3] [4] | |
| 29 pairs | Dinogeophilus oligopodus (genus & species), Schendylidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [13] | soil centipede | ||
| 30 pairs | Polydesmida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | flat-backed millipede | usually 30 pairs in males (excluding 1 pair of gonopods); usually 31 pairs in females; some taxa deviate from these numbers [2] [3] [4] | |
| 31 pairs | Mesochendyla javanica (genus & species), Schendylidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | soil centipede | 31 pairs in males; 31 or 33 pairs in females (usually 31) [32] | |
| 32 pairs | Devillea tuberculata (genus & type species), Xystodesmidae (family), Polydesmida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | flat-backed millipede | 32 pairs in males (excluding 1 pair of gonopods); 35 pairs in females [33] [3] | |
| 33 pairs | Geophilus hadesi (genus & species), Geophilidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [34] | soil centipede | ||
| 34 pairs | Mongeperipatus solorzanoi (genus & species), Peripatidae (family), Onychophora (phylum) | velvet worm | 34 pairs in males; 39 to 41 pairs in females (usually 41) [35] | |
| 35 pairs | Escaryus molodovae (genus & species), Schendylidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [36] [37] | soil centipede | ||
| 36 pairs | Glomeridesmida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | slug millipede | usually 36 pairs in females; usually 35 pairs in males (including 1 pair of telepods); [25] some taxa deviate from these numbers [38] [39] | |
| 37 pairs | Escaryus hirsutus (genus & species), Schendylidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | soil centipede | 37 or 39 pairs in each sex [36] [37] | |
| 38 pairs | Epiperipatus titanicus (genus & species), Peripatidae (family), Onychophora (phylum) | velvet worm | 36 to 38 pairs in males; 36 to 39 pairs in females [40] | |
| 39 pairs | Escaryus polygonatus (genus & species), Schendylidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [36] [37] | soil centipede | ||
| 40 pairs | Chamaesoma broelemanni (monotypic genus & species), Chamaesomatidae (family), Chordeumatida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | sausage millipede | 40 pairs in males (excluding 2 pairs of gonopods); 42 pairs in females [41] [3] | |
| 41 pairs | Nannarrup (genus), Mecistocephalidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [42] | soil centipede | ||
| 42 pairs | Xystrosoma santllorence (genus & species), Chamaesomatidae (family), Chordeumatida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | sausage millipede | 42 pairs in females; 40 pairs in males (excluding 2 pairs of gonopods) [43] | |
| 43 pairs | Dicellophilus carniolensis (genus & species), Mecistocephalidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [44] | soil centipede | ||
| 44 pairs | Haasea hungarica (genus & species), Haaseidae (family), Chordeumatida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | sausage millipede | 44 pairs in males (excluding 2 pairs of gonopods); 46 pairs in females [3] | |
| 45 pairs | Dicellophilus limatus (genus & species), Mecistocephalidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [44] | soil centipede | ||
| 46 pairs | Lipseuma (genus), Kashmireumatidae (family), Chordeumatida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | sausage millipede | 46 pairs in females; 44 pairs in males (excluding 2 pairs of gonopods) [45] | |
| 47 pairs | Mecistocephalus tahitiensis (genus & species), Mecistocephalidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [46] | soil centipede | ||
| 48 pairs | Tianella (genus), Entomobielziidae (family), Chordeumatida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | sausage millipede | usually 48 pairs in females; usually 46 pairs in males (excluding 2 pairs of gonopods); some species deviate from these numbers [47] | |
| 49 pairs | Mecistocephalus (genus), Mecistocephalidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | soil centipede | 49 pairs in most species; some species deviate from this number [48] [46] | |
| 50 pairs | Chordeumatida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | sausage millipede | usually 50 pairs in females; usually 48 pairs in males (excluding 2 pairs of gonopods); some taxa deviate from these numbers [2] [3] | |
| 51 pairs | Mecistocephalus lifuensis (genus & species), Mecistocephalidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [46] | soil centipede | ||
| 52 pairs | Metamastigophorophyllon (genus), Anthroleucosomatidae (family), Chordeumatida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | sausage millipede | 52 pairs in females; 50 pairs in males (excluding 2 pairs of gonopods) [49] [25] [3] | |
| 53 pairs | Krateraspis sselivanovi (genus & species), Mecistocephalidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [46] | soil centipede | ||
| 54 pairs | Neocambrisoma raveni (genus & type species), Metopidiotrichidae (family), Chordeumatida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | sausage millipede | maximum in class fixed by species; [5] 54 pairs in females; 51 pairs in males (excluding 3 pairs modified as gonopods or paragonopods) [50] | |
| 55 pairs | Mixophilus indicus (monotypic genus & species), Geophilidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | soil centipede | 55 or 57 pairs in males; 57 pairs in females [51] | |
| 57 pairs | Mecistocephalus diversisternus (genus & species), Mecistocephalidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | soil centipede | 57 or 59 pairs in each sex [52] | |
| 59 pairs | Mecistocephalus smithii (genus & species), Mecistocephalidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) [53] | soil centipede | ||
| 61 pairs | Mairata itatiaiensis (genus & species), Geophilidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | soil centipede | 61 pairs in males; 63 pairs in females [54] | |
| 63 pairs | Mecistocephalus japonicus (genus & species), Mecistocephalidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | soil centipede | 63 or 65 pairs in each sex [52] | |
| 65 pairs | Aphilodon bahianus (genus & species), Geophilidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | soil centipede | 63 or 65 pairs in each sex [55] | |
| 67 pairs | Aphilodon silvestrii (genus & species), Geophilidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | soil centipede | 67, 69, or 71 pairs in females; 69 pairs in males [55] | |
| 69 pairs | Schendylops demelloi (genus & species), Schendylidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | soil centipede | 69 pairs in males; 69 or 71 pairs in females (usually 71) [56] | |
| 71 pairs | Geoperingueyia crabilli (genus & species), Geophilidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | soil centipede | 71 pairs in males; 71, 73, or 75 pairs in females (usually 73) [57] | |
| 73 pairs | Aphilodon pereirai (genus & species), Geophilidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | soil centipede | 73 or 75 pairs in males; 73, 75, or 77 pairs in females [55] | |
| 75 pairs | Stenotaenia asiaeminoris (genus & species), Geophilidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | soil centipede | 75 pairs in males; 77 or 79 pairs in females [58] | |
| 191 pairs | Gonibregmatus plurimipes (genus & species), Gonibregmatidae (family), Geophilomorpha (order), Chilopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | soil centipede | maximum in class; [5] based on a single specimen [59] | |
| 653 pairs | Eumillipes persephone (monotypic genus & species), Siphonotidae (family), Polyzoniida (order), Diplopoda (class), Myriapoda (subphylum), Arthropoda (phylum) | camphor millipede | maximum in kingdom; 499 to 653 pairs in females; 387 to 407 pairs in males (excluding 2 pairs of gonopods) [1] |