Seychelles giant millipede

The Seychelles giant millipede, as its name suggests, is found only in the Seychelles. It inhabits moist forest areas, where it feeds on decaying organic matter such as leaf litter. Through this activity, nutrients are returned to the soil, improving soil fertility and supporting the entire ecosystem. The Seychelles giant millipede avoids heat and drought by sheltering in leaf litter, within the soil, or beneath stones. The species defends itself against predators by producing chemical defensive substances.

Unfortunately, the Seychelles giant millipede is considered endangered. The main threats are invasive plant species, which alter its habitat and therefore its food supply, as well as climate change, which is leading to longer periods of drought. These conditions have also encouraged the spread of a parasitic fly that particularly affects adult individuals. Between 2000 and 2005, the population declined by more than half. The species has already disappeared from the islands of Mahé and Praslin, probably because it was preyed upon by tenrecs, a mammal species introduced from Madagascar.

Distribution