Final answer:
Although the term millipede suggests 'thousand-footers,' millipedes, in reality, have significantly fewer legs, typically between 10 to 750. The name is etymologically accurate but biologically inaccurate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Etymologically, the term millipede does imply a 'thousand-footer,' but this is a misnomer regarding their actual leg count. Millipedes, belonging to the subphylum Myriapoda, vary in the number of legs they have, typically from 10 to 750. The North American millipede, Narceus americanus, for example, has many legs but not one thousand. Millipedes and centipedes, the most commonly found examples of Myriapoda, are terrestrial and thrive in humid environments. Millipedes have two pairs of legs per body segment, distinct from centipedes, which have one pair of legs per body segment.