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Shongololo on the move

Shortly after the first rains, the thoroughly intriguing Giant African Millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas), a.k.a. Shongololo, has emerged from its safe hide-out underground - to feed and to breed. These herbivorous invertebrates are generally harmless creatures, but they do secrete a chemical substance containing cyanide. This is a defense mechanism against ants and other insects as well as some insect-eating mammals. Its primary defense is to roll up in a tight coil.

Filename
VGR_20100105_5419.jpg
Copyright
2010 - Vincent Grafhorst
Image Size
5616x3384 / 7.5MB
Contained in galleries
Animals of the Kgalagadi
Shortly after the first rains, the thoroughly intriguing Giant African Millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas), a.k.a. Shongololo, has emerged from its safe hide-out underground - to feed and to breed. These herbivorous invertebrates are generally harmless creatures, but they do secrete a chemical substance containing cyanide. This is a defense mechanism against ants and other insects as well as some insect-eating mammals. Its primary defense is to roll up in a tight coil.