Giant Millipede
African Giant Millipede [ Spirobolus spp. ]
QUICK FACTS LENGTH:
8 to 11 inches
WILD DIET:
scavenges on rotting plant material, but will also feed on algae, fruit, and dead animals
ZOO DIET:
fruit and vegetables, leaf eater chows, romaine lettuce
DISTRIBUTION:
tropical and sub-tropical Africa
HABITAT:
under moist debris, rotting wood, etc.
Mighty, For a Millipede
A leggy creature
With a name meaning "thousand legs," you know it's got to be interesting to look at! There are more than 7,000 species of millipedes in various habitats throughout the world. Despite their name, millipedes may have a hundred legs, but not a thousand.
The African giant millipede is an arthropod. Arthropods comprise the largest phylum in the animal kingdom. A segmented body, segmented appendages, and an exoskeleton roughly distinguish them from other animals. Arthropods include crustaceans, insects, spiders, and their relatives, centipedes, and millipedes--and encompass more than a million species.
Fallen in love with food
The African giant millipede is a long, black, cylindrical animal, with four legs (two pairs) on each body segment. It is thought to be the largest millipede in the world, growing to 12 inches long. It lives in the rain forests of Africa, where the weather is warm and humid and the forest floor is thick with dead vegetation. They love it when their food falls on the floor...the forest floor that is. It is a herbivore, which means it feeds mainly on plants. Powerful legs help the millipede navigate through the mountain of tasty dead vegetation that has fallen into their path.
Nature's composters
While rain forests are covered in lush vegetation, the quality of the soil is usually very poor. Thirsty plants quickly absorb heavy rains and the water is carried up the trunks into the treetops. The quick recycling of nutrients and water among the atmosphere, the soil, and the plants deplete nutrients in the soil. Animals called decomposers keep the cycle moving. Decomposers, like bacteria, fungi, some insects, and millipedes, eat decaying animal and plant matter and turn it into inorganic matter. When the inorganic matter is excreted, it contains the nutrients necessary to keep the cycle moving.
The single life
African giant millipedes usually live alone. The females lay hundreds of eggs in a nest they make of compressed soil just below the surface. The eggs have a tough coating to protect them. Upon hatching, the millipedes usually have seven or eight pairs of legs. They add legs with each molting until they reach their adult size, when they usually have about 100 legs.
Stink defense
With a highly segmented body, African giant millipedes often curl up into a ball if threatened, and can secrete a foul-smelling liquid. The liquid is not dangerous to people unless they get it in their eyes or they eat the millipede.
African giant millipedes at Brookfield Zoo
You can see African giant millipedes in Habitat Africa! The Forest.
http://brookfieldzoo.org/czs/Brookfield/Exhibit-and-Animal-Guide/Fragile-Rain-Forest/African-Giant-Millipede
A millipede is as useful as it is pretty, helping recycle decaying organic matter on the forest floor.
While the northeastern United States digs out from winter storms Pax and Quintus, Bug of the Week continues its tropical sojourn with stops in Costa Rica and East Africa. On our recent visits to the New World tropics, we met winged wonders including blue morpho and malachite butterflies, cryptic lanternflies, hairy tarantulas, and fierce army ants. Our first stop this week is the Montaña Azul in Costa Rica where tractor millipedes roam the forest floor.
Dozens of tiny legs move in synchronized waves to propel the tractor millipede as it searches for food.
Upon encountering the Polydesmid millipedes, it’s easy to see how they get one of their common names, tractor millipedes. Flattened dorsal plates create the appearance of a tread from a tractor tire moving across the forest floor. These millipedes are blind and use the senses of touch and smell to find delicious rotting organic matter that serves as their food.
Two pairs of legs on each body segment is a hallmark of the millipede.
Millipedes and their cousins centipedes are not insects, but instead belong to a group of arthropods called the Myriapods, many legged creatures. Contrary to their name, millipedes do not actually have one thousand legs. If one were to buy shoes for all of their tiny feet, between 40 to 400 pairs would do the trick depending on the species. Most body segments with legs bear two pair rather than a single pair as would be found on centipedes. This is an easy way to tell centipedes from millipedes next time you happen on one in the garden. Although Costa Rican tractor millipedes are mighty impressive with a body length of roughly six inches, the real leviathans of the millipede realm reside in tropical Africa and dwarf their Costa Rican cousins. These behemoths are found in the warm tropical forests where they bulldoze through leaf litter and soil in search of decaying plant material.
Curling into a tight ball is one line of defense of the giant millipede.
How do animals so large and apparently so defenseless protect themselves from hungry predators of the rainforest? The primary defense of the millipede is to curl into a tight ball and protect its tender underbelly. The plates on the back and sides of the millipede are sturdy. Many species of millipedes also wage chemical warfare as a method of defense. Several species bear glands lining the margins of their body. Different species secrete a variety of noxious chemicals such as quinones, phenols, and hydrogen cyanide when provoked. These chemicals are repellent and act as deterrents to insects and small animals interested in munching on a millipede. It is always a good idea to wash your hands after handling these critters, even the ones found in your back yard in Maryland such as the rather dinky millipedes and centipedes in a previous episode of Bug of the Week, Life and Death Down Under.
Giant African millipedes reach a remarkable size and can exceed 10 inches in length. However, fossil remains of a relative called Arthropleura have been found in Nova Scotia. This giant was roughly eight feet long. Imagine encountering one of those while wandering through the rainforest at night!
http://bugoftheweek.com/blog/2014/2/17/rainforest-recyclers-tractor-millipedes-polydesmida-and-giant-african-millipedes-iarchispirostreptus-spi
QUICK FACTS LENGTH:
8 to 11 inches
WILD DIET:
scavenges on rotting plant material, but will also feed on algae, fruit, and dead animals
ZOO DIET:
fruit and vegetables, leaf eater chows, romaine lettuce
DISTRIBUTION:
tropical and sub-tropical Africa
HABITAT:
under moist debris, rotting wood, etc.
Mighty, For a Millipede
A leggy creature
With a name meaning "thousand legs," you know it's got to be interesting to look at! There are more than 7,000 species of millipedes in various habitats throughout the world. Despite their name, millipedes may have a hundred legs, but not a thousand.
The African giant millipede is an arthropod. Arthropods comprise the largest phylum in the animal kingdom. A segmented body, segmented appendages, and an exoskeleton roughly distinguish them from other animals. Arthropods include crustaceans, insects, spiders, and their relatives, centipedes, and millipedes--and encompass more than a million species.
Fallen in love with food
The African giant millipede is a long, black, cylindrical animal, with four legs (two pairs) on each body segment. It is thought to be the largest millipede in the world, growing to 12 inches long. It lives in the rain forests of Africa, where the weather is warm and humid and the forest floor is thick with dead vegetation. They love it when their food falls on the floor...the forest floor that is. It is a herbivore, which means it feeds mainly on plants. Powerful legs help the millipede navigate through the mountain of tasty dead vegetation that has fallen into their path.
Nature's composters
While rain forests are covered in lush vegetation, the quality of the soil is usually very poor. Thirsty plants quickly absorb heavy rains and the water is carried up the trunks into the treetops. The quick recycling of nutrients and water among the atmosphere, the soil, and the plants deplete nutrients in the soil. Animals called decomposers keep the cycle moving. Decomposers, like bacteria, fungi, some insects, and millipedes, eat decaying animal and plant matter and turn it into inorganic matter. When the inorganic matter is excreted, it contains the nutrients necessary to keep the cycle moving.
The single life
African giant millipedes usually live alone. The females lay hundreds of eggs in a nest they make of compressed soil just below the surface. The eggs have a tough coating to protect them. Upon hatching, the millipedes usually have seven or eight pairs of legs. They add legs with each molting until they reach their adult size, when they usually have about 100 legs.
Stink defense
With a highly segmented body, African giant millipedes often curl up into a ball if threatened, and can secrete a foul-smelling liquid. The liquid is not dangerous to people unless they get it in their eyes or they eat the millipede.
African giant millipedes at Brookfield Zoo
You can see African giant millipedes in Habitat Africa! The Forest.
http://brookfieldzoo.org/czs/Brookfield/Exhibit-and-Animal-Guide/Fragile-Rain-Forest/African-Giant-Millipede
A millipede is as useful as it is pretty, helping recycle decaying organic matter on the forest floor.
While the northeastern United States digs out from winter storms Pax and Quintus, Bug of the Week continues its tropical sojourn with stops in Costa Rica and East Africa. On our recent visits to the New World tropics, we met winged wonders including blue morpho and malachite butterflies, cryptic lanternflies, hairy tarantulas, and fierce army ants. Our first stop this week is the Montaña Azul in Costa Rica where tractor millipedes roam the forest floor.
Dozens of tiny legs move in synchronized waves to propel the tractor millipede as it searches for food.
Upon encountering the Polydesmid millipedes, it’s easy to see how they get one of their common names, tractor millipedes. Flattened dorsal plates create the appearance of a tread from a tractor tire moving across the forest floor. These millipedes are blind and use the senses of touch and smell to find delicious rotting organic matter that serves as their food.
Two pairs of legs on each body segment is a hallmark of the millipede.
Millipedes and their cousins centipedes are not insects, but instead belong to a group of arthropods called the Myriapods, many legged creatures. Contrary to their name, millipedes do not actually have one thousand legs. If one were to buy shoes for all of their tiny feet, between 40 to 400 pairs would do the trick depending on the species. Most body segments with legs bear two pair rather than a single pair as would be found on centipedes. This is an easy way to tell centipedes from millipedes next time you happen on one in the garden. Although Costa Rican tractor millipedes are mighty impressive with a body length of roughly six inches, the real leviathans of the millipede realm reside in tropical Africa and dwarf their Costa Rican cousins. These behemoths are found in the warm tropical forests where they bulldoze through leaf litter and soil in search of decaying plant material.
Curling into a tight ball is one line of defense of the giant millipede.
How do animals so large and apparently so defenseless protect themselves from hungry predators of the rainforest? The primary defense of the millipede is to curl into a tight ball and protect its tender underbelly. The plates on the back and sides of the millipede are sturdy. Many species of millipedes also wage chemical warfare as a method of defense. Several species bear glands lining the margins of their body. Different species secrete a variety of noxious chemicals such as quinones, phenols, and hydrogen cyanide when provoked. These chemicals are repellent and act as deterrents to insects and small animals interested in munching on a millipede. It is always a good idea to wash your hands after handling these critters, even the ones found in your back yard in Maryland such as the rather dinky millipedes and centipedes in a previous episode of Bug of the Week, Life and Death Down Under.
Giant African millipedes reach a remarkable size and can exceed 10 inches in length. However, fossil remains of a relative called Arthropleura have been found in Nova Scotia. This giant was roughly eight feet long. Imagine encountering one of those while wandering through the rainforest at night!
http://bugoftheweek.com/blog/2014/2/17/rainforest-recyclers-tractor-millipedes-polydesmida-and-giant-african-millipedes-iarchispirostreptus-spi