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Giant Flat-backed Millipede

Polydesmus sp.?

Description:

about 4" long and ¾" wide, this lively flat millipede was a light gray with a black stripe down the center of its back bordered by light-gray stripes. It curled into a tight coil when picked up, and I noticed that at the bases of its legs it had a collection of small tan mites, each about 1mm across.

Habitat:

It was creeping along in the leaf litter near a stream in humid rain forest along the north bank of the Amazon River

Notes:

These guys are vegetarians, so there's no fear they'll bite. Two legs per segment means they're millipedes, One leg per segment is a centipede and should be handled carefully. When they walk the row of legs ripples as though a wave were passing through. So cool! Several different millipedes share this common name, so if you know what genus and species it is, please tell me.

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3 Comments

armadeus.4
armadeus.4 8 years ago

I'm with you on that one! I love being able to share as much as I love being able to learn :)

Irene Brady
Irene Brady 8 years ago

LOL, I can't imagine not putting information in all the fields if I know or find out something interesting about it.....;o}

armadeus.4
armadeus.4 8 years ago

Great shots Irene! Thank you for the information and for sharing :)

Irene Brady
Spotted by
Irene Brady

Loreto, Peru

Spotted on Dec 29, 2010
Submitted on Jan 29, 2016

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