Seychelles giant millipede

Seychelles giant millipede
Conservation status
	; Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Myriapoda
Class:	Diplopoda
Order:	Spirostreptida
Family:	Spirostreptidae
Genus:	Sechelleptus
Species:	S. seychellarum
Binomial name
	Sechelleptus seychellarum; (Desjardins, 1834)
Synonyms
	Julus seychellarum; Rubanostreptus seychellarum;

The Seychelles giant millipede (Sechelleptus seychellarum) is a species of millipede endemic to Seychelles.

The species has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.^[1] The species inhabits 14 islands within the Seychelles, with an extent of occurrence of 600 km² (230 sq mi), and occupancy area of 37 km² (14 sq mi).^[1]

The species is found to have a higher density in elevated areas with a presence of rock coverage, and use granite rock crevices, fallen logs, and other rotting wood debris as diurnal refuges in forested habitats.^[2]

The species is threatened by the introduction and spread of the non native Bamboo plant Bambusa vulgaris, whose presence is associated with lower population density within the species.^[3] The leaf litter of Bambusa vulgaris can also outnumber the leaf litter of native flora, which the species feeds on, creating a lack of suitable food resources for the species.^[3]

In terms of diet, the species prefers to feed on the softer freshly fallen leaf litter of species including Pisonia grandis and Ficus sp.^[3]