Quantcast
ZME Science
  • CoronavirusNEW
  • News
  • Environment
    • Climate
    • Animals
    • Renewable Energy
    • Eco tips
    • Environmental Issues
    • Green Living
  • Health
    • Alternative Medicine
    • Anatomy
    • Diseases
    • Genetics
    • Mind & Brain
    • Nutrition
  • Future
  • Space
  • Feature
    • Feature Post
    • Art
    • Great Pics
    • Design
    • Fossil Friday
    • AstroPicture
    • GeoPicture
    • Did you know?
    • Offbeat
  • More
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Our stance on climate change
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
Home Environment Animals

World’s leggiest creature found

Mihai Andrei by Mihai Andrei
November 15, 2012
in Animals, Science

The elusive millipede species has 750 legs and was thought to be extinct.

The leggiest creature lives in California – no big surprise there, is smaller than the average pinky and has a really strange anatomy. Aside for the 750 legs sported by females (about 550 by males), they spin silk from long hairs that cover their body, practically creating their own clothing.

“It’s the coolest millipede I’ve ever heard about,” Marek added.

Illacme plenipes has a mythical status in the biological kingdom. It was first observed in 1928, but kept a really low profile throughout the 20th century, which made researchers believe it was extinct. So in 2005, an intrigued Marek, who was then a doctoral student, began searching for the invertebrate, in a foggy small area around San Francisco. He and his team, since then, discovered 17 specimens, each clinging to sandstone boulders; they eventually stopped gathering specimens, afraid that it could endanger the species.

Because this creature has adapted to living underground, it’s not just a set of legs: each leg features claws, used probably for digging or clinging to subterranean rocks. Other surprising features included huge antennae (compared to the rest of the body), which it uses to find its way in the dark, a translucent exoskeleton, and, of course, the body hairs that produce a sort of silk. This is not a fashion statement, but it’s likely something which allows Illacme plenipes to adhere to boulders.

Get more science news like this...

Join the ZME newsletter for amazing science news, features, and exclusive scoops. More than 40,000 subscribers can't be wrong.

   

But things are not looking good for them; judging by the ever increasing human development in the area, and their certainly small numbers, they should be considered endangered – and it would be a shame to lose such a bizarre creature.

Tags: centipedemillipede
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Andrei's background is in geophysics, and he's been fascinated by it ever since he was a child. Feeling that there is a gap between scientists and the general audience, he started ZME Science -- and the results are what you see today.

Follow ZME on social media

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Coronavirus
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Feature
  • More

© 2007-2019 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Coronavirus
  • News
  • Environment
    • Climate
    • Animals
    • Renewable Energy
    • Eco tips
    • Environmental Issues
    • Green Living
  • Health
    • Alternative Medicine
    • Anatomy
    • Diseases
    • Genetics
    • Mind & Brain
    • Nutrition
  • Future
  • Space
  • Feature
    • Feature Post
    • Art
    • Great Pics
    • Design
    • Fossil Friday
    • AstroPicture
    • GeoPicture
    • Did you know?
    • Offbeat
  • More
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Our stance on climate change
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2019 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.