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AFRICAN GIANT MILLIPEDES
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Archispirostreptus gigas
HABITAT: Tropical and sub-tropical parts of
western Africa.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern
FUN FACT: If disturbed, they curl up into a spiral, with the head and legs tucked inside. They can also secrete a defensive liquid, composed of mostly quinines and hydrochloric acid, which discourages most birds and other predators from eating them.
DIET: Detritivores – feed on dead and decaying matter
DESCRIPTION: The African Giant millipede is one of the world’s largest millipedes. It can grow up to 12 inches long and can be as thick around as a person’s thumb. It is covered with a tough black cuticle. Like other millipedes and centipedes, its body is divided into many segments. Each segment of a millipede consists of a large dorsal part called a tergite, and two small ventral parts, known as sternites. Each sternite has a pair of legs, so that millipedes have 2 pairs of legs per segment. This distinguishes them from the centipedes, which have only one pair of legs per segment. Millipedes add segments (and associated pairs of legs) as they grow older. Although the name “millipede” means “1000 feet”, the adults of most species probably have only 200-300. Millipedes have a pair of antennae, and mandibles (jaws) that resemble those of insects. They have two clusters of simple eyes, which probably only detect light and dark. Sexes are similar, but males have a pair of specialized legs on the 7th segment, used for transferring sperm.
FIND ME IN THE ZOO:
*African Giant Millipedes are education animal ambassadors, their habitat is not viewable to public as they require privacy when not on program.
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