These centipedes are found nearly worldwide, with tropical and subtropical regions providing the richest diversity in species.

[5][6][7][8] The centipedes in this order are epimorphic, hatching with a full complement of segments.

[10] Species in this order have flattened bodies ranging from 9 mm to 30 cm in length.

[4] The order comprises the five families Cryptopidae, Scolopendridae, Mimopidae, Scolopocryptopidae, and Plutoniumidae.

[11][12] Species in the family Scolopocryptopidae have 23 leg-bearing segments, whereas species in all other families in this order have only 21 leg-bearing segments (with the exception of the genus Scolopendropsis in Scolopendridae).