Ghana Speckled Leg Millipedes (Telodeinopus aoutii)
Looking for a gentle giant with a unique, arboreal personality? The Ghana Speckle Leg Millipede (Telodeinopus aoutii) is a fan-favorite for its impressive length, olive-grey body, and iconic "speckled" pattern on its many legs.
Unlike many subterranean species, these West African millipedes are skilled climbers, often found exploring branches and the upper levels of their habitat.
At EntoScapes, our Speckle Legs are UK captive-bred and raised on our specialist nutrient-dense leaf litter and calcium-rich substrates to ensure peak health and exoskeleton strength.
Whether you are a first-time keeper or a seasoned enthusiast, these docile and active millipedes are a perfect addition to a tall, bioactive display.
Explore the sections below for our biology-led guide on vertical space requirements, dietary variety, and the fascinating climbing behaviors of these West African giants.
- Origins: Telodeinopus aoutii are one of the African giants in the family Spirostreptidae and are commonly called Ghana Speckled millipedes, Giant Olive millipedes and Long Legged millipedes.
- Appearance: This species can vary from a dark olive to a coppery brown colour and has long white and brown striped legs which are used to grip onto branches and logs when climbing.
- Natural Environment: These are naturally found in tree savannahs in West Africa where there are rainy and dry periods, so it is important to provide these with a similar habitat in captivity.
- Easy Diet: We consider these detritivores to be the 'dustbins' of the millipede world as they will eat anything from old meat to any fruit and vegetables, and have ravenous appetites!
- Behaviour: Younger millipedes grow very quickly and tend to be more surface active than other species. We recommend T. aoutii as a good beginner giant species as it is fairly hardy and forgiving and is a rewarding species to keep.
- Breeding: Once adult, females commonly produce lots of offspring if conditions are desirable, so this is something to consider if you plan to keep both male and female together.
- Social Bugs: These are social like other millipedes, so it is preferred to keep a pair or more together.
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