Procyliosoma tuberculatum
Giant pill millipedes might not have many legs compared to other millipedes, but that helps a lot with their handy defensive trick of rolling up in armour-plated ball.
Millipede means ‘thousand legs‘, but with only 21 pairs of walking legs, you might think the giant pill millipede has been short-changed. In this case, the smaller number of legs helps with its signature defensive move. When threatened, like an arthropod armadillo, this species rolls up into a tight ball with only its armour-plated covering visible, while the softer underside and legs are safely tucked away underneath. This rounded shape is why they are called pill millipedes.
Giant pill millipedes can reach 5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, and each body segment is covered with glossy brown plating. They are found in native forest in the North Island and upper South Island.
Check these links for more info on the Giant Pill Millipede in NZ
Wikipedia: Information on Procyliosoma tuberculatum
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