Updated on December 16, 2021, 5:02 p.m.
- It’s a disappointing finding: even though millipedes have the number in their name, they actually don’t have a thousand legs.
- However, researchers have now discovered a new species.
- And this lives up to its name.
Contrary to previously assumed, certain millipedes live up to their name. A copy of the newly discovered species Eumillipes persephone has 1,306 legs, as a team led by Paul Marek from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, USA, writes in the journal “Scientific Reports”.
The species is the first known millipede with more than 1,000 feet. The previous record holder only came up to 750.
Newly discovered millipedes have no eyes
The now discovered species was discovered in a 60 meter deep borehole in Australia. Marek’s researchers measured four specimens of the new species. It has a thread-like body that consists of up to 330 segments and can be up to 10 centimeters long.
The millipedes have no eyes, short legs and a conical head. The researchers assume that their many segments and legs give the animals the opportunity to squeeze through narrow openings in the earth in which they live. (ff / dpa)
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