The findings highlight the biodiversity found within the Eastern Goldfields Province. To reduce the impact of mining in this area on E. persephone, the authors advise that efforts need to be made to save its underground habitat.
Reference: “The first real millipede– 1306 legs long” by Paul E. Marek, Bruno A. Buzatto, William A. Shear, Jackson C. Means, Dennis G. Black, Mark S. Harvey and Juanita Rodriguez, 16 December 2021, Scientific Reports.DOI: 10.1038/ s41598-021-02447-0.
Researchers discovered the first millipede with more than 1,000 legs 60 meters underground in a drill hole produced for mineral expedition in the mining location of the Eastern Goldfields Province of Australia. Credit: P. Marek et al., 2021, Scientific Reports
The discovery of the first millipede with more than 1,000 legs is reported in Scientific Reports this week. Prior to this, no millipede had actually been found with more than 750 legs.
It has 1,306 legs– more than any other animal– and belongs to a new types that has actually been called Eumillipes persephone. They are eyeless, have brief legs, and cone-shaped heads with antennae and a beak.
Named Eumillipes persephone, this millipede has 1,306 legs– more than any other animal. Credit: P. Marek et al., 2021, Scientific Reports
Analysis of the relationships in between species recommends that E. persephone is distantly related to the previous record holder for the greatest number of legs– the Californian millipede types, Illacme plenipes. The authors suggest that the a great deal of segments and legs that have actually evolved in both species may permit them to produce pressing forces that allow them to move through narrow openings in the soil environments they reside in.
Paul Marek and associates discovered the millipede 60 meters underground in a drill hole produced for mineral expedition in the mining location of the Eastern Goldfields Province of Australia. It has 1,306 legs– more than any other animal– and belongs to a brand-new species that has been named Eumillipes persephone. They are eyeless, have brief legs, and cone-shaped heads with antennae and a beak.
Credit: P. Marek et al., 2021, Scientific Reports
Credit: P. Marek et al., 2021, Scientific Reports
Credit: P. Marek et al., 2021, Scientific Reports