| type | Status | Habitat |
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 |
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ARTHROPODS |
STABLE |
AFRICA |
 The giant African millipede calls the rainforests of subtropical western Africa home. Giant African millipedes love warm, dark places on the rainforest floor. |
 African giant millipedes will eat a wide range of fruits, veg and rotting leaves. Adults and young alike, eat bananas, tomatoes, melons, romaine lettuce, apples, cucumbers, and other fruits and vegetables. |
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Although the name millipede means "thousand-feet," most giant African millipedes only have about 300 to 400 legs. The largest of the 10,000 species of millipede, these gentle giants call the rainforests of Africa home.Millipede means "thousand-feet," while centipede means "hundred-feet." Instead of having four legs per body segment, centipedes have two legs per body segment.
TGiant African millipedes are a large arthropod, classified by a segmented body, an exoskeleton, and many, many legs! They are usually dark brown and black in color, have a rounded body, and range from 4 to 12 inches in length. Starting at the tip-top of their head, giant African millipedes have two antennae and simple eyes called "ocelli." They also have a single mouth or "maxilla." The head segment of the millipede does not have any legs.
Giant African millipedes love warm, dark places on the rainforest floor. The most common hiding places include areas near rotting wood and burrows where they can curl up and hide. Millipedes are a type of organism called a detritivore. Detritivores feed on dead and decaying organic matter within their habitat. This organic matter could be things such as decaying trees, logs, and plants.