Please ID This Colombian Millipede

[Pitter]

I would like to identify this millipede. It is quite common on my property in Colombia. It was also featured in a Colombian thriller that reached the US video rentals called "Dog Eat Dog" (Perro Come Perro by director Carlos Moreno).

 

[zonbonzovi]

Other than being something from family Polydesmidae I couldn't say. Great photo. We have similar but presumably smaller millipedes here. Very difficult to keep in captivity, in general. If you make any observations about their diet, etc., I know a few of us here would love to hear about it.

 

[SDCPs]

The pede looks fairly large compared to the grass blades. What size do they usually attain, Pitter?

 

[Pitter]

The biggest ones I've seen are about 12 cm.

 

[beetleman]

wow, that's a very interesting pede,love to work with them.

 

[SDCPs]

The biggest ones I've seen are about 12 cm.

Woa! That's large

I bet its Polydesmidae sp. 1 , no seriously! I have a millipede book by Shura' Sigling and apparently the species name is unknown. I'll give you some info:

Optimum keeping temperature seems to be 22-25 C, these critters specialize in consumption of rotting wood and decaying leaves.

Here is a link to a Youtube video giving the rest of us some scale reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv6HgK6CqlE

 

[Pitter]

I haven't seen what they eat but rotting wood and decaying leaves seems likely. The typical temperature range where I find them is 11 C (morning) to 22 C (afternoon). I can't seem to come up with anything on species native to Colombia per se.

 

[SDCPs]

If I remember correctly this species is thought of as being native to Peru...which you are right next to. Maybe searching for species native to Peru will give you better results