Giant African millipede

Archispirostreptus gigas

Classification: Diplopoda

Lifespan: 5 - 7 years

Threats: Birds, small mammals, and various reptiles

Distribution: East Africa

Habitat: Forest floor

Appearance: Usually dark brown and black in colour and range from 4 to 12 inches in length

Diet & Feeding: Decaying organic matter such as trees and plants.

Social Behaviour: They live in burrows that they dig themselves. Once a millipede hatches there is no parental involvement

Males and females: Male millipedes have gonopods

Number of young: They lay between 100 - 1000 eggs

Interesting fact: Although the name millipede means “thousand-feet,” the giant African millipede only has about 300 to 400 legs