Giant Pill Millipede vs Madagascan Pill Millipede

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Pill Millipede Madagascan Pill Millipede
Scientific Name Zephronia siamensis Zoosphaerium neptunus
Order Sphaerotheriida Sphaerotheriida
Family Zephroniidae Arthrosphaeridae
Size 30-50 mm diameter when rolled 40-60 mm when curled
Habitat Caves Forests
Diet Wood Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Giant Pill Millipede

A large pill millipede that can roll into a perfect sphere the size of a golf ball when threatened. The body is dark brown to black with smooth, overlapping plates.

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Did You Know?

When rolled into a ball, the armor plates lock together so tightly that most predators cannot pry them apart.

Madagascan Pill Millipede

A giant pill millipede endemic to Madagascar that can roll into a perfect ball. It is one of the largest pill millipedes in the world.

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Did You Know?

Males produce sounds by stridulation to attract females during courtship.