Red Millipede, Mozambique Millipede Centrobolus sp.
Class: Diplopoda. Order: Spirobolida. Family: Pachybolidae. Subfamily: Centrobolinae
Kruger National Park
Spirobolid millipedes of the order Spirobolida are distinguished by the presence of distinct pleurites on each body segment, just above the legs, and a pronounced suture that runs vertically down the front of the head. Both pairs of legs on the seventh segment of the male are modified into gonopods. Spirobolidans are smooth, cylindrical millipedes with 35-60 body segments in adults. They can be distinguished by the number of legs: spirobolidans have one pair on each of the first five body segments, two pairs on succeeding segments. They possess repugnatorial glands that produce defensive secretions, such as benzoquinones and hydroquinones, that may irritate and stain the skin. Species are often large and conspicuous, and sometimes brightly coloured and patterned.
Spirobolids have both pairs on legs of the seventh segment modified into gonopods, which are used during sperm transfer into the gonopore of the female. Eggs are laid into soil or detritus. Newly emerged young possess three pairs of legs. Development is gradual and gonopods are first formed during several nymphal stages and molts preceding the final adult form. Growth, and therefore moulting, continues through adulthood, and their life span is typically several years.
Spirobolid millipedes are detritivores, feeding on decaying vegetable matter.
The order Spirobolida is a species-rich order, with more than 1200 species described from the sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and Australia.
There 23 species of Centrobolus
in the eastern half of Southern Africa. Most species are similar in size (about 10 cm) and appearance (red in
colour, some with black marks). Their habitat preference is woodland and coastal forest.