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  Common Name(s): Giant African Millipede, African Giant Black Millipede   GIANT AFRICAN MILLIPEDE    
 
Latin Name: Archspirostreptus gigas
 
Description: Dark brown in colour. Between 16-26cm in length, although females can reach 36cm. Segmented Body (each segment contains 2 pairs of legs)
 
Range: The tropical regions of west Africa
 
Habitat: Forests, scrublands, grasslands.  Most often found living near or in moist debris and rotting wood
 
Diet: The millipede is a detritivore, it eats rotten, decaying leaves and fruit (detritus) that it finds on the rainforest floor
 
Care in Captivity: Best kept in a plastic or glass container with a well ventilated lid. Use a mixture of potting soil and coconut fibre compost.  Provide a piece of cork bark for climbing (not too high). Temperature should be between 22-26oC (do not allow temperature drop below 18oC. Two to three light mists a week will dampen substrate and maintain humidity. Although millipede eats decaying material, any food with signs of mould or fungus must be removed. Sprinkle food with cuttlefish bone. Provide water in shallow dish.
 
Fact: When threatened, the millipede will roll itself up into a spiral with its head tucked into the middle for protection and will secrete a foul smelling chemical to deter predators