Welcome to no 11 of 16 Reptile Roadshow Reptile Profiles – Giant African Millipede – celebrating 16 years of Reptile Parties and Events
- Millipedes are a common class of arthropod with over 10,000 named species.
- Two pairs of legs per segment distinguish millipedes from the closely related centipedes which only have one
- Early forms of millipede were some of the first animals to colonise land and therefore some of the oldest known fossils of land creatures.
- Giant African millipede, is one of the largest millipedes, growing up to 38.5 centimeters (15.2 in) in length
- They can weight up to 80grams when fully grown
- They have approximately 256 legs
- Found widely throughout Western Africa
- They mainly live under leaf litter or in rotting logs, but sometimes they burrow into damp soil.
- They eat decaying leaves and other dead plant matter (such as roots and fruit).
- They can live up-to 10 years
- Giant African millipedes are nocturnal
- Fertilized eggs are laid in holes in the ground.
- After emerging from the eggs, the young are white with only a few segments.
- They only have three pairs of legs when they’re babies
- Millipedes will coil their bodies into a circle when they feel threatened
- Reptile Roadshow has 4 Giant African Millipedes
Reptile Roadshow celebrates going strong for 16 years. We hope you enjoyed this animal profile. This reptile is just one of many you can see at Reptile Roadshow events.
To book your own Reptile Roadshow party contact us at 01908 640 072 or email.
Make sure you checkout the other animal profiles on our blog.