Chongololo

After the first rains have moistened the soil the "chongololo" emerges. The pictured one visited my room and I discovered that they were quite adapt at crawling under a door. Behind a pair of probing antennae, a long, shiny, red-black, worm-like cylinder slithers slowly to the surface. Two groups, or clusters, of simple eyes swivel in search of rapacious predators. The chongololo is also known as the Giant African Millipede, and can grow to a full eight inches with 70 body segments with two pairs of legs on each for a total of 280 feet. To manage motion the chongololo moves the limbs forward in groups of five or six pairs at a time. The critter does not bite and has blunt teeth for grinding plant material. When touched the animal recoils and when alarmed creates stink.

An example of the many interesting insects that are abundant in Zambia. I mentioned that some insects are also a source of human protein. Caterpillars were on the menu as we concluded the retreat, but I passed. They were very popular with the novices, but the novices favored having them fried rather than with a sauce. Pretzel like is best.