No bite, no sting and no venom — millipedes have none of the apparatus. It secretes a defensive fluid that stains skin and irritates eyes, so wash your hands after handling and do not rub your face.
SizeCommonly 20–28 cm; the largest approach 33 cm
MarkingsTwo pairs of legs per body segment — the character that separates every millipede from every centipede · Up to about 30 cm, cylindrical and glossy dark brown to black
WhereForest floor and leaf litter in East Africa, in and under rotting wood.
What it is not
A giant millipede is most often confused with a species that is medically significant. If you are trying to rule those out, check these:
Two pairs of legs per body segment — the character that separates every millipede from every centipede
Up to about 30 cm, cylindrical and glossy dark brown to black
Coils into a flat spiral when disturbed, head protected in the centre
Moves slowly with a rippling wave running down the legs
Short antennae and no fangs — nothing at the front end to strike with
Where you’ll find it
East Africa. Not a US species — the ones here are kept animals, and importing them is restricted in some states.
Forest floor and leaf litter in East Africa, in and under rotting wood.
How it behaves
It is a detritivore: it eats decaying leaf litter and rotting wood and has no capacity to hunt anything. The whole defensive strategy is passive — coil up, present armour, and if that fails release benzoquinones from pores along the body. That fluid is the only thing about it worth respecting; it stains skin brown for days and genuinely hurts in the eyes. Some individuals carry small mites in the leg grooves, which look alarming and are commensal rather than parasitic.
You’ve found one indoors
Wash your hands after handling one, and keep it away from your face. If you keep one it needs deep substrate with rotting hardwood and leaf litter, high humidity and a calcium source. The commonest keeping mistake is a shallow, sterile setup with nothing to eat.
Common questions
Do millipedes bite?
None of them do. Millipedes have no fangs and no venom. Only centipedes have the modified front legs that deliver a bite.
What is the brown stain on my hands?
Defensive secretion, mostly benzoquinones. It is harmless on skin but stains for several days and irritates badly in the eyes. Wash after handling.
How do I tell a millipede from a centipede?
Count legs on one segment. Two pairs per segment means millipede, which is slow and harmless. One pair per segment means centipede, which is fast and can bite.
What are the tiny things on its legs?
Usually commensal mites that ride along and feed on debris. They are normal, common on wild-caught animals, and not parasites.
Stephanie Dolrenry · CC-BY-SA