Don’t forget to put on your millipede! Scientists have seen Capuchin monkeys intentionally irritating millipedes in order to rub the chemicals on themselves to repel mosquitoes.
The giant African millipede is one of the largest species of millipede, and can grow to up to more than 11 inches in length. They have a large, flat black oval body that is divided into segments, a pair of jointed antennae and several pairs of short jointed legs. Millipedes contain a pair of sensory organs in their heads which are believed to measure the amount of moisture in the air.
They can be found under moist debris and rotting wood, in warm, damp and dark places of tropical and sub tropical Africa.
They feed on decaying organic plant matter, and have been also know to eat roots and leaves of seedling plants.
Due to their lack of speed and their inability to bite or sting, its primary defense mechanism is to curl into a tight coil, protecting their delicate legs inside an armored body exterior. Many species also emit poisonous liquid secretions or hydrogen cyanide gas through microscopic pores along the sides of their bodies as a secondary defense. Some of these substances are acidic and can burn the exoskeleton of ants and other insect predators, and the skin and eyes of larger predators.
Most giant millipede species have an expected life span of 7-10 years.