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Fast Facts:

Typically adults have 100-400 sets of legs. There are two legs to every body segment. Every time an adult molts it adds more sets of legs.

African Giant Millipede

Scientific Name:	Archispirostreptus gigas
Classification:	Phylum: Chordata, Class: Diplopoda, Order: Spirastreptida, Family Spirastreptida
Status:	Stable
Range:	Africa
Habitat:	Millipedes live in Tropical and Subtropical Forest Floors in Africa. They tend to spend most of their time living in underground burrows and chambers.
Diet:	Decaying plant matter
Size:	Adults can reach a length of eleven inches When full grown they are typically as big a round as a thumb.
Lifespan:	In captivity African Giant Millipedes typically live 7-10 years.
Location:
Print Fact Sheet	Millipede

Behavior & Social Structure

African Giant Millipedes are coved with a thick black cuticle. They breathe through tiny pores along the side of the cuticle called spiracles.

Millipedes are active mostly at night. They cannot close their spiracles so they are in danger of drying out during the day.

Millipedes secret an irritating liquid when they feel they are threatened. This liquid composed of quinines and hydrochloric acid can be harmful to the mouth and eyes. Another defense mechanism is to curl into a tight spiral whenever they feel threatened.