Editing Millipede (section)

===Defence mechanisms===
{{further|Anti-predator adaptation}}
{{Multiple image
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| footer            = [[Juliformia|Juliform]], [[Pill millipede|oniscomorph]] and [[Archispirostreptus gigas]] millipedes curled in a defensive coil
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Due to their lack of speed and their inability to bite or sting, millipedes' primary [[Anti-predator adaptation|defence mechanism]] is to curl into a tight coil – protecting their delicate legs inside an armoured exoskeleton.<ref>{{cite book|title=Animals: The International Wildlife Magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qMjzAAAAMAAJ |year=1964 |publisher=Nigel-Sitwell |page=21}}</ref>

Many species also emit various foul-smelling liquid secretions through microscopic holes called ozopores (the openings of "odoriferous" or "repugnatorial glands"), along the sides of their bodies as a secondary defence. Among the many irritant and toxic chemicals found in these secretions are [[alkaloid]]s, [[benzoquinone]]s, [[phenols]], [[terpenoid]]s, and [[hydrogen cyanide]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Blum |first1=Murray S.|last2=Woodring |first2 = J. Porter|year=1962 |title=Secretion of benzaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide by the millipede ''Pachydesmus crassicutis'' (Wood) |journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]] |volume=138 |issue=3539 |pages=512–513 |doi=10.1126/science.138.3539.512 |pmid=17753947|bibcode = 1962Sci...138..512B |s2cid=40193390}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Kuwahara, Yasumasa |author2=Ômura, Hisashi |author3=Tanabe, Tsutomu |year=2002 |title=2-Nitroethenylbenzenes as natural products in millipede defense secretions |journal=[[Naturwissenschaften]] |volume=89 |issue=7 |pages=308–310 |pmid=12216861|doi=10.1007/s00114-002-0328-9|bibcode = 2002NW.....89..308K |s2cid=30068731 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Wood | first1 = William F. | year = 1974 | title = Toluquinone and 2-Methoxy-3-methylbenzoquinone from the Defensive Secretions of Three African Millipedes | journal = Annals of the Entomological Society of America | volume = 67 | issue = 6 | pages = 988–989 | doi= 10.1093/aesa/67.6.988}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Wood | first1 = William F. | last2 = Shepherd | first2 = Julian  | last3 = Chong | first3 = Berni  | last4 = Meinwald | first4 = Jerrold  |   year = 1975 | title = Ubiquinone-0 in the defensive spray of an African Millipede | journal = Nature | volume = 253 | issue = 5493 | pages = 625–626 | doi=10.1038/253625a0| pmid = 1113850 | s2cid = 4195891 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Wood | first1 = William F. | last2 = Hanke | first2 = Frederick J. | last3 = Kubo | first3 = Isao | last4 = Carroll | first4 = Jennifer A. | last5 = Crews | first5 = Phillip | year = 2000 | title = Buzonamine, a new alkaloid from the defensive secretion of the millipede, Buzonium crassipes | journal = Biochemical Systematics and Ecology | volume = 28 | issue = 4 | pages = 305–312 | doi=10.1016/s0305-1978(99)00068-x| pmid = 10725589 | bibcode = 2000BioSE..28..305W }}</ref> Some of these substances are [[Corrosive substance|caustic]] and can burn the exoskeleton of [[ant]]s and other insect predators, and the skin and eyes of larger predators. Primates such as [[capuchin monkey]]s and [[lemur]]s have been observed intentionally irritating millipedes in order to rub the chemicals on themselves to repel [[mosquito]]es.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Weldon |first1=Paul J. |last2=Aldich |first2=Jeffrey R. |last3=Klun |first3=Jerome A. |last4=Oliver |first4=James E. |last5=Debboun |first5=Mustapha |year=2003 |title=Benzoquinones from millipedes deter mosquitoes and elicit self-anointing in capuchin monkeys (''Cebus'' spp.) |journal=[[Naturwissenschaften]] |volume=90 |issue=7 |pages=301–305 |doi=10.1007/s00114-003-0427-2 |pmid=12883771 |bibcode=2003NW.....90..301W |s2cid=15161505 |url=https://naldc-legacy.nal.usda.gov/naldc/download.xhtml?id=3665&content=PDF |access-date=2018-04-29 |archive-date=2021-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225011203/https://naldc-legacy.nal.usda.gov/naldc/download.xhtml?id=3665&content=PDF |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=valederrama>{{cite journal |last1=Valderrama |first1=Ximena |last2=Robinson |first2=John G. |last3=Attygalle |first3=Athula B. |last4=Eisner |first4=Thomas |year=2000 |title=Seasonal anointment with millipedes in a wild primate: a chemical defense against insects |journal=[[Journal of Chemical Ecology]] |volume=26 |issue=12 |pages=2781–2790 |doi=10.1023/A:1026489826714|bibcode=2000JCEco..26.2781V |s2cid=25147071 }}</ref><ref name=Birkinshaw1999>{{cite journal|last=Birkinshaw|first=Christopher R.|title=Use of millipedes by black lemurs to anoint their bodies|journal=[[Folia Primatologica]] |year=1999 |volume=70 |issue=3 |pages=170–171 |doi=10.1159/000021691|pmid=10394067|s2cid=36036598}}</ref> Some of these defensive compounds also show antifungal activity.<ref name="Roncadori et al 1985">{{cite journal |last1=Roncadori |first1=R. W. |last2=Duffey |first2=S. S. |last3=Blum |first3=M. S. |title=Antifungal activity of defensive secretions of certain millipedes |journal=[[Mycologia]] |year=1985 |volume=77 |issue=2 |pages=185–191 |doi=10.2307/3793067 |jstor=3793067}}</ref>

The bristly millipedes (order Polyxenida) lack both an armoured exoskeleton and odiferous glands, and instead are covered in numerous bristles that in at least one species, ''[[Polyxenus fasciculatus]]'', detach and entangle ants.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Eisner |first1=Thomas |last2=Eisner |first2=Maria |last3=Deyrup |first3=Mark |year=1996 |title=Millipede defense: use of detachable bristles to entangle ants |journal=[[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences]] |volume=93 |issue=20 |pages=10848–10851 |doi=10.1073/pnas.93.20.10848 |pmid=8855269 |bibcode=1996PNAS...9310848E |pmc=38244|doi-access=free }}</ref>