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Giant African Millipede

Scientific Name: Archispirostreptus gigas

Fast Fact:
When threatened, Giant African Millipedes curl up into a ball, head and legs tucked inside, and secrete a nasty-smelling and tasting fluid from specialized glands. This liquid discourages most predators from eating them.

Giant African MillipedeAlthough “millipede” means 1000 feet, adults of most of the several thousands of species of millipedes have only 200 to 300 feet. Each body segment has two pairs of legs, unlike a centipede which has only one pair.

STATUS: Giant African Millipedes have a stable population. Predators include lizards, frogs, scorpions and birds.

HABITAT: These creatures live in tropical and sub-tropical areas of western Africa. They can be found living under rocks, in moist soil and leaves and in rotting wood. Although terrestrial, the millipedes also spend time in burrows.

DIET: Millipedes are detritivores, meaning that they eat decaying plant matter such as dead leaves and plants, algae and moss. They are an important part of their ecosystem because they are one of nature’s best decomposers, helping to turn plant material into compost or other matter usable by smaller soil decomposers such as bacteria.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: The Giant African Millipede is one of the largest millipedes with a body usually consisting of 30 to 40 segments. It can grow to be twelve inches in length and can be as wide as a person’s thumb. Its “skin” is a tough black cuticle. Millipedes have only three pairs of legs when they are born but they grow in size and add segments with each of their frequent molts. They have two clusters of simple eyes, which can probably only distinguish light and dark, as well as two antennae and jaws similar to those of an insect. Males and females look alike but males have a pair of specialized legs on their seventh segment which are used to transfer sperm to the female. The animals breathe through spiracles, which are small pores along their sides. Spiracles can’t close so body water loss can be a problem. For this reason they live only in humid areas and are active at night when they are less likely to dry out. These millipedes can live up to seven years.

Yoo Hoo, Where Are You?

Adult millipedes locate mates by releasing pheromones, or chemical substances, which attract other millipedes. After mating, the female will build an underground chamber made from dung.  She will deposit up to 2,000 eggs which will hatch in about three weeks.