The geographic range portrayed below is based off of and. They are found under logs and rocks or beneath leaf mulch. EnvironmentĪmerican Giants live in fairly humid, generally warm areas of the United States, usually in forests and woodlands with lots of leaf litter. There are reports of American Giants living ten years in captivity, but lifespan probably varies with diet nutrition and whether they were wild caught. The hatchlings will have just a few segments and six legs, and will add to their body plan with each molt. Some sources suggest that females lay eggs singly, but American Giants will still lay many eggs overall. In captivity they seem to be able to breed year round. Rarely an albino form can be found among hobbyists, which is brilliant because lack of pigmentation is an incredibly rare condition among invertebrate species.Īmerican Giants can double the average size of most other American ‘pedes Life CycleĪmerican Giants breed late spring or early summer and mate many times in a season. The legs are generally orange-brown, occasionally light enough to justify the common name of American Pinkleg. Like all millipedes they have two pairs of legs per segment.
One of the biggest millipede species native to North America, American Giants can reach lengths of four inches and tend to be dark brown with light brown, almost orange segmentation. If your millipede objects to handling in this way, simple handwashing should take care of it.
Common ironworm skin#
It is capable of releasing a fluid that smells mildly gross and might stain skin for a day, but this is documented rarely and I have never experienced it.
While many species of millipedes secrete a variety of defensive compounds ranging in effect from dying one’s hands unfortunate colors to cyanide poison, the American Giant just likes to curl up tight when threatened. All are very similar and this care sheet should apply to any of them. While the species classification is Narceus americanus, it is likely that there are many species included under the name. Narceus americanus/annularis species complex, Giant Pinkleg, Worm Millipede, Giant Millipede, Iron Worm ClassificationĬlass Diplopoda (Millipedes), Order Spirobolida (Round-backed Millipedes), Family Spirobolidae.
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