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- Aug 23, 2015
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She's awesome!!! I love it. Seems quite large! Thank you for sharing.Meet Marissa, the African giant millipede. She's pretty much the best pet ever. Handled her many times and she never left a trail of defense fluid. Beautiful creature!
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I have a female A. Gigas and she curls her head too.@ first picture: I have a female milli who does the head curl too. I've never seen males do it, so I wonder why it happens.
Chicobolus Spinigerus are famous for doing the head curl. I've seen any gender from the ivories do it, but the AGBs seem to be gender specific. No idea, good observation though!@ first picture: I have a female milli who does the head curl too. I've never seen males do it, so I wonder why it happens.
Millipedes excrete a defensive fluid when they feel threatened. Those who are more comfortable with humans or yourself will not excrete any kind of this fluid, which is an orange color. Not releasing the fluid was an indication that the millipede was very familiar with its owner. The fluid is composed of Hydrogen Cyanide and Hydrochloric Acid, although it is very dilute and doesn't really have an effect on humans. You just don't want to get it in your mouth.I'm sorry you had to sell her but defense fluid?!? That's a new phrase (I have 0 experience in millipedes).
You're thinking of polydesmid (flat) millipedes that secrete cyanic compounds. The secretions of Archspirostreptus gigas are mostly benzoquinones and hydroquinones, according to this useful paper that lists the secretions of various diplopod species. I'm not aware of any millipedes that secrete hydrochloric acid, even in a dilute form. Have to agree the fluid is definitely something you wouldn't want in your mouth or eyes.The fluid is composed of Hydrogen Cyanide and Hydrochloric Acid, although it is very dilute and doesn't really have an effect on humans.
You would be exactly right on that information. I was on the early stages of my research project and thought the defensive fluid applied to all millipedes with all of the compounds mentioned in one fluid universally. However, as you said, polydesmid millipedes are the ones who secrete cyanide products. I found a publication stating that there is at least one species of millipede that does have a HCl compound in it, even if it isn’t the main component. As I said, it would definitely have to be a dilute form if it was actually there. Once I get my research all in order, I’ll send you the article if I happen to think of it.You're thinking of polydesmid (flat) millipedes that secrete cyanic compounds. The secretions of Archspirostreptus gigas are mostly benzoquinones and hydroquinones, according to this useful paper that lists the secretions of various diplopod species. I'm not aware of any millipedes that secrete hydrochloric acid, even in a dilute form. Have to agree the fluid is definitely something you wouldn't want in your mouth or eyes.
https://www.researchgate.net/public...diplopoda_Biochemistry_physiology_and_ecology
That would be great. I've been hunting down all the scientific articles I can find on millipedes, as they tend to have the most accurate information for care of certain species, since its done in laboratory conditions.You would be exactly right on that information. I was on the early stages of my research project and thought the defensive fluid applied to all millipedes with all of the compounds mentioned in one fluid universally. However, as you said, polydesmid millipedes are the ones who secrete cyanide products. I found a publication stating that there is at least one species of millipede that does have a HCl compound in it, even if it isn’t the main component. As I said, it would definitely have to be a dilute form if it was actually there. Once I get my research all in order, I’ll send you the article if I happen to think of it.