Archispirostreptus gigas
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| Archispirostreptus gigas | ||||||||||||||||
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| Archispirostreptus gigas (Peters, 1855) |
Archispirostreptus gigas, the giant African millipede is one of the largest of the millipedes, growing up to 11 in (28 cm) in length. It lives in tropical and subtropical Africa, in rotting plant life or moist earth, and usually avoids light. It is black in colour, and is often kept as a pet.
There are a variety of millipedes kept as pets that are referred to as giant millipedes or giant African millipedes (e.g. Archispirostreptus spp, Scaphiostreptus spp). There are several species available, but there is often confusion over the exact species. Species identification can be quite difficult in living specimens and there appears to be some dispute over the correct scientific names of some millipedes. However, while there is some variation in appearance, the giant millipedes are largely similar in their characteristics and care.
In general, giant millipedes have an expected lifespan of about 7-10 years. They can be handled, and are quite docile and slow moving. Giant millipedes have two main modes of defense if they feel threatened: curling into a tight spiral exposing only the hard exoskeleton, and secretion of an irritating liquid from pores on their body. This liquid can be harmful if introduced into the eyes or mouth. Some individuals are more sensitive to the liquid than others, and some species are more toxic than others.
Millipedes are non-territorial and may be kept in terrariums with other specimens of the same species. Millipedes breed quite readily in captivity and it is not uncommon for collections that include male and female examples to do so. In captivity, these arthropods should be fed a variety of fruits and veggies. The most loved is the cucumber. If you mist the terrarium daily, a water dish need not be provided. The best substrate would probably be peat moss, for they like to burrow when shedding.
Millipedes do not actually have a thousand legs - they usually have between 100-400 (2 sets of legs per body segment). Each time they molt, they add more segments and therefore more legs. Male millipedes have specialized legs used for fertilization on the seventh body segment called gonopods. These appendages look different than the other legs as they have grasping claws and are often carried tucked underneath the body. These creatures weigh around 100mg.
[edit] References
- Giant African millipede. Oakland Zoo. Retrieved on 2007-07-08.
