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COMMON NAME: Giant African Millipede
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Archispirostreptus gigas
TYPE: Invertebrate
DIET: Detritivore â feeds on decaying organic matter, such as rotting leaves and wood
GROUP NAME: Colony (though they are typically solitary)
LIFESPAN: 7â10 years in captivity
SIZE: Up to 12 inches (30 cm) long
WEIGHT: ~3â4 oz (85â115 g)
STATUS: Not Evaluated
THREATS: Habitat destruction and improper collection for the pet trade
HABITAT: Subtropical forests and leaf litter of western and central Africa
BEHAVIOR:
Navigates without eyes by using sensitive antennae
Has weak mouthparts and cannot bite
Defends itself by curling into a tight spiral and secreting a foul-smelling fluid
FUN FACT: Millipedes breathe through tiny holes called spiracles located along the sides of their exoskeletonâand they have two pairs of legs per body segment, unlike centipedes!
COMMON NAME:Â Peppered Cockroach
SCIENTIFIC NAME:Â Archimandrita tesselata
TYPE:Â Invertebrate
DIET:Â Leaves and decaying plant material (omnivore)
GROUP NAME: Intrusion (rarely used; often just called a colony or group)
LIFESPAN:Â Up to 2 years
SIZE:Â 2â3 inches
WEIGHT:Â Not well documented; very light due to exoskeleton and body design
STATUS:Â Not Listed
THREATS:Â None (in captivity); habitat loss in the wild is a minor concern
HABITAT:Â Tropical rainforests of Central and South America
BEHAVIOR:Â Docile and usually calm. While not the longest of roaches, they are among the widest. Often hide during the day and come out at night.
ORDER: Blattodea (not Phasmatodea â thatâs for walking sticks)
FUN FACT:Â These cockroaches are closely related to some of Earthâs earliest winged insects, which lived over 200 million years agoâmaking them ancient survivors of the insect world!
COMMON NAME: Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Gromphadorhina portentosa
TYPE: Invertebrate
DIET: Detritivore â feeds on decaying organic matter like rotting leaves, wood, and fruit
GROUP NAME: Colony (commonly lives in groups in captivity and the wild)
LIFESPAN: 2â5 years
SIZE: 2â4 inches (5â10 cm)
WEIGHT: ~15â20 grams
STATUS: Not Evaluated
THREATS: None in the wild; common in captivity
HABITAT: Forest floors of Madagascar, often under logs and leaf litter
BEHAVIOR: Nocturnal scavenger that contributes to forest health by breaking down decomposing materials.
FUN FACT: These cockroaches hiss by forcing air through spiracles (tiny holes along their sides), a behavior used to communicate during mating or when threatened.
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COMMON NAME: Jungle Nymph
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Heteropteryx dilatata
TYPE: Invertebrate
DIET: Herbivore â feeds on leaves, including guava, bramble, and other tropical plants
GROUP NAME: Colony (though they are mostly solitary)
LIFESPAN: 1â2 years
SIZE:
Females: Up to 6.5 inches (16.5 cm)
Males: 4â5 inches (10â13 cm)
WEIGHT: Females can weigh up to 65 grams â among the heaviest of all insects
STATUS: Not Evaluated
THREATS: Habitat loss and collection for the pet trade
HABITAT: Tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia
BEHAVIOR: Nocturnal and well-camouflaged. Females are leaf-like and bright green; males are brown and stick-like. Females have short wings and cannot fly, while males can.
FUN FACT: Jungle Nymphs are covered in sharp spines. When threatened, females raise their hind legs and snap them shut like a spiny trap to deter predators!
COMMON NAME: Sabah Thorny Stick Insect
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Aretaon asperrimus
TYPE: Invertebrate
DIET: Herbivore â feeds on leaves of bramble, guava, and other tropical plants
GROUP NAME: Colony (though typically solitary)
LIFESPAN: 9 months to 1.5 years
SIZE:
Male: ~2 inches (5 cm)
Female: 3â3.5 inches (7.5â9 cm)
WEIGHT: Not well documented; relatively lightweight
STATUS: Not Listed
THREATS: None significant in captivity
HABITAT: Tropical rainforests of Borneo, particularly the Sabah region of Malaysia
BEHAVIOR: Nocturnal and slow-moving. Covered in small spines for camouflage and defense.
FUN FACT: When threatened, these insects release a repulsive odor and may produce a faint croaking sound by rubbing their mouthparts together!
COMMON NAME: Vietnamese Walking Stick
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Baculum extradentatum
TYPE: Invertebrate
DIET: Herbivore â eats leaves; uses sideways-moving jaws
GROUP NAME: Colony (typically solitary)
LIFESPAN: 1â2 years
SIZE:
Females: 4â5 in
Males: 3â4 in (rare)
WEIGHT: Lightweight
STATUS: Not Evaluated
THREATS: None significant
HABITAT: Tropical forests of Southeast Asia
BEHAVIOR: Camouflages as twigs; females can reproduce without mating
FUN FACT: Also called phasmidsâfrom the Latin for “ghost” due to their stealthy, vanishing appearance.
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COMMON NAME:Â Asian Forest Scorpion
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Heterometrus spp.
TYPE:Â Invertebrate
DIET:Â Carnivore â feeds on insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates
GROUP NAME: Cluster or bed (though typically solitary)
LIFESPAN:Â 6â8 years
SIZE:Â 4â6 inches (10â15 cm)
WEIGHT:Â ~10â12 grams
STATUS:Â Not Evaluated
THREATS:Â Habitat loss and collection for pet trade
HABITAT:Â Tropical and subtropical forests across Southeast Asia
BEHAVIOR:Â Nocturnal ambush predator that hides in burrows or under logs. Uses powerful pincers to grasp prey and a mild venom to subdue it.
FUN FACT: Like many scorpions, Asian Forest Scorpions glow under ultraviolet light due to natural fluorescence in their exoskeletonâmaking them light up neon blue-green in the dark!
COMMON NAME: Tailless Whip Scorpion
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Damon diadema
TYPE: Invertebrate
DIET: Insects and other small invertebrates
GROUP NAME: Colony (though usually solitary)
LIFESPAN: 5â10 years
SIZE: Up to 8 inches leg span
WEIGHT: Lightweight; not commonly recorded
STATUS: Not Evaluated
THREATS: Habitat destruction
HABITAT: Humid tropical forests and caves in East Africa
BEHAVIOR: Nocturnal and shy; uses long whip-like front legs to feel surroundings and detect prey. Despite their intimidating look, they are harmless to humans.
FUN FACT: Tailless whip scorpions belong to a group called Amblypygidsâthey have no venom and donât sting or bite!
COMMON NAME:Â Blue Death Feigning Beetle
SCIENTIFIC NAME:Â Asbolus verrucosus
TYPE:Â Invertebrate
DIET:Â Omnivore â feeds on plant matter, fungi, decaying organic material, and dead insects
GROUP NAME: Colony (though they are typically solitary)
LIFESPAN:Â 8â10 years in captivity
SIZE:Â 0.7â1.1 inches (18â28 mm)
WEIGHT:Â ~1 gram
STATUS:Â Not Evaluated
THREATS:Â None significant; not currently threatened
HABITAT:Â Arid deserts of the southwestern United States, especially the Sonoran Desert
BEHAVIOR:Â Known for its defense behavior of âplaying deadâ (thanatosis) when threatenedâsometimes staying motionless for hours
FUN FACT: This beetleâs powdery blue color comes from a waxy coating that protects it from dehydration in the desert sun. The blue fades if the beetle gets wet or humid!
COMMON NAME: Mexican Red-Knee Tarantula
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Brachypelma smithi
TYPE: Invertebrate
DIET: Insects, other spiders, frogs, small birds, and mice
GROUP NAME: Colony (though typically solitary)
LIFESPAN: Males: Up to 10 years
Females: Up to 25 years
SIZE: 5 inches body length; up to 7-inch leg span
WEIGHT: ~0.5â1 oz
STATUS: Near Threatened
THREATS: Habitat destruction and illegal pet trade
HABITAT: Semi-desert and grasslands of Mexico
BEHAVIOR: Nocturnal ambush predators. They are calm but may flick irritating hairs from their abdomen if threatened.
FUN FACT: They can smell and taste with their feetâthanks to sensitive hairs that detect chemical and vibrational signals!
COMMON NAME: Brazilian Black Tarantula
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Grammostola pulchra
TYPE: Invertebrate
DIET: Insects, small invertebrates, and occasionally small vertebrates
GROUP NAME: Colony (though typically solitary)
LIFESPAN: Males: 6â8 years
Females: Up to 20 years
SIZE: 5â6 inch leg span
WEIGHT: ~1 oz
STATUS: Not Evaluated
THREATS: Habitat loss and over-collection for the pet trade
HABITAT: Grasslands and tropical forests of Brazil and Uruguay
BEHAVIOR: Docile and slow-moving. Known for their calm temperament and reluctance to bite.
FUN FACT: This speciesâ velvety black appearance and gentle nature make it one of the most popular tarantulas in the pet trade.
COMMON NAME: Rose-Hair Tarantula
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Grammostola rosea
TYPE: Invertebrate
DIET: Insects, lizards, small snakes, mice, and toads
GROUP NAME: Colony (though typically solitary)
LIFESPAN: Males: 4â6 years
Females: Up to 20 years
SIZE: 4.5â6 inches leg span
WEIGHT: ~0.5â1 oz
STATUS: Not Evaluated
THREATS: Habitat loss and overcollection for pet trade
HABITAT: Deserts and scrublands of Chile, South America
BEHAVIOR: Burrowing tarantulas that web themselves into a shelter during the day
FUN FACT: Despite their dramatic appearance, theyâre often shy and slow-moving, making them a favorite in the exotic pet world.
COMMON NAME: Salmon Pink Birdeater Tarantula
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lasiodora parahybana
TYPE: Invertebrate
DIET: Insects, with the occasional small bird or mammal
GROUP NAME: Colony (though typically solitary)
LIFESPAN: Males: 4â6 years
Females: Up to 15 years
SIZE: Up to 10 inches leg span
WEIGHT: ~3â4 oz
STATUS: Not Evaluated
THREATS: Habitat loss and overcollection for pet trade
HABITAT: Rainforest floors of eastern Brazil
BEHAVIOR: Nocturnal ground-dweller that creates burrows or hides in natural shelters
FUN FACT: One of the largest tarantulas in the worldâand despite their size, theyâre surprisingly fast movers!
COMMON NAME: Zebra-Legged Tarantula
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Aphonopelma seemanni
TYPE: Invertebrate
DIET: Insects, small mammals, small amphibians
GROUP NAME: Solitary
LIFESPAN: Up to 15 years (females)
SIZE: 4â6 inches
WEIGHT: Not commonly recorded
STATUS: Not Evaluated
THREATS: Habitat loss
HABITAT: Forests of southern Mexico and Central America
BEHAVIOR: Docile and nervous; more likely to flee than fight. Lives in deep burrows lined with webbing.
FUN FACT: Their striking black and white leg stripes help them blend in with the forest floor.
Starting on October 2nd, your support will help with animal care, enriching our habitats, and providing unforgettable experiences for our community.