Food passage time in a tropical millipede, Doratogonus uncinatus (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae) from Zimbabwe.

Abstract

In the present study, passage time of different food types in a southern African millipede was investigated and the proportion of the gut containing food was measured in the laboratory in December 2000. Food type did not affect food passage time in millipedes (p>0.05). The gut is always full (100%) when millipedes are active on the surface. The results support the notion that millipedes, as detritivores, do not adjust food passage time even when the food type/quality changed, as happens when they are active during the rainfall season.