First true millipede: new species discovered with more than 1,000 stems in Western Australia | the animals

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The first ever millipede was discovered at over 1,000 feet in Western Australia.

This species, the first “true” millipede, has 1,306 legs and was found up to 60 meters underground in a mining area in the eastern Goldfields region of Washington state.

The researchers named the new species Eumillipes Persephone, in reference to the Greek goddess of the underworld, Persephone.

It breaks the previous record held by Illacme plenipes, which are located in central California and have a reach of up to 750 feet.

Dr. Bruno Pozzato, a biologist at Bennelongia Environmental Consultants, discovered the millipede while conducting an underground environmental impact assessment. He described the discovery as “incredibly lucky”.

“These animals were unique,” Buzzato said. “Once I realized how long… I realized they must be something completely different.”

This species has a long, threadlike body consisting of 330 segments, with short legs and a conical head. Like other animals that live in complete darkness, he is pale blind.

Dr. Juanita Rodriguez, research collaborator and entomologist at CSIRO, said the new species likely evolved its length for ease of movement underground.

“The longer it takes, the stronger it is to move forward,” she said. She added that more than 300 pieces of millipede bodies will give it more strength for movement in rocky areas such as small cracks.

By comparison, the Portuguese millipede — a common invasive species in Australia that’s usually seen in large numbers after heavy rains — has about 25 parts, Rodriguez said. In 2013, it was reported that a Portuguese millipede infestation was responsible for a train collision in Perth.

In all, the team found eight Eumillipe millipedes in three pits at depths between 15 and 60 metres.

Rodriguez said it has been surprising to discover the new species underground so far. While some millipedes live in caves, she said, many are surface inhabitant and break down organic matter such as leaf litter.

Little is known about the new species. “It’s a good bet that they eat mushrooms,” Pozzato said.

Genetic analysis found that while Eumillipes Persephone has physical similarities to the previous California record holder, the two species of millipede are only distantly related.

There are more than 2,000 known species of millipede in Australia, Rodriguez said, adding that the true number of species could be as high as 4,000.

“Few people realize … the large proportion of Australian biodiversity remains undescribed, and thus also the importance of taxonomists,” Pozzato said. “We’re basically driving extinct species probably faster than we describe.”

Rodriguez and colleagues at CSIRO are also studying chemicals produced by the Australian millipede. “We’re testing it to see if it has the potential to be antimicrobial against pathogens that have a lot of antimicrobial resistance.”

Centipedes differ from centipedes in that they have two pairs of legs on most parts of the body, while centipedes have only one pair.

The research on the new millipede was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

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