Giant Millipede
Desert Millipede
Orthoporus ornatus
Image taken near Vulture Peak, s. of Wickenburg, Maricopa Co., Arizona. Oct. 6, 2002.
Spirostreptidae -- a Millipede Family
The class name for millipedes, Diplopoda, refers to the two pairs of legs for each of the many body segment. Sun-bleached skeletons of the Giant Millipede are often found on the soil surface in the Sonoran Desert. The millipedes, 10 cm or more long, lead a mostly secluded life beneath the soil. The best time to find live millipedes above surface is after a summer rain. At Vekol Valley I found several feeding at canid scat; others were found up in creosote bushes.
During the summer monsoon of 2008 many adults were found patrolling the surface in Vekol Valley, Sonoran Desert National Monument, Arizona. When disturbed they curl up protecting their soft venter and legs. One week later many, many dead were found all across the creosote flats; having mated and laid there eggs their life was at an end.