The giant African millipede, .i.Archispirostreptus gigas./i. (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida), a model species for ecophysiological studies

0429258 - BC 2015 RIV CZ eng J - Journal Article
Šustr, Vladimír - Tajovský, Karel - Semanová, Stanislava - Chroňáková, Alica - Šimek, Miloslav
The giant African millipede, Archispirostreptus gigas (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida), a model species for ecophysiological studies.
Acta Societatis Zoologicae Bohemicae. Roč. 77, č. 2 (2013), s. 145-158. ISSN 1211-376X
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA526/09/1570
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : Spirostreptidae * giant millipedes * digestive enzymes * methane * gut microflora
Subject RIV: EG - Zoology

Several species of large millipedes are kept as pets and generally called giant millipedes or giant African millipedes. There is often confusion over the species names of these millipedes due to difficulties with their exact determination. Their large body size and the relative ease with which they can be kept under laboratory conditions means they are suitable subjects for experimental investigations. Archispirostreptus gigas (Peters, 1855), the giant African millipede, is one of the largest species, growing up to 32 cm in body length. It is widespread from Mozambique to Kenya, mainly along the east coast of Africa rather than further inland, occurring in tropical and arid forest as well as savanna. A short review of different aspects of the conditions required for breeding it in the laboratory, its ontogeny and use in ecophysiological and physiological studies is presented for it and other representatives of the order Spirostreptida. Spirostreptid millipedes are recommended as model species for studies on chemical ecology, parasitology, microbial ecology of digestive tract, embryology and postembryonal development, biochemistry and physiological mechanisms, including digestion, metabolic physilogy and other.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0236122