The creepy crawler turns out to have 1306 legs! That is no less than 556 more than the previous record holder.

Although the name ‘centipede’ suggests that these animals have 1000 legs, this is certainly not the case. For example, never before had a centipede been found with more than 750 limbs. Until now. Because researchers proclaim in a new study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, that they have come across a centipede that does live up to its name.

1306 feet

It’s a wonderful discovery. Because for the first time a centipede has been found that has more than 1000 legs. In fact, this creepy crawler turns out to be equipped with a whopping 1306 legs! That is 556 more than the previous record holder. Investigators found the creature more than 60 meters underground, in a borehole in a mining area in Australia’s Goldfields-Esperance region.

Photo of the legs of a male Eumillipes persephone. Image: Paul E. Marek, Bruno A. Buzatto, William A. Shear, Jackson C. Means, Dennis G. Black, Mark S. Harvey, Juanita Rodriguez, Scientific Reports

Researchers have poetically named this first centipede with a thousand legs Eumillipes Persephone datum. This name is derived from the Greek word eu- (really), the Latin words mille (thousand) and pes (legs) and refers to the Greek goddess of the underworld: Persephone.

Segments

Not only have the researchers developed the legs of Eumillipes Persephone Counting one by one, they also held a ruler next to four members of the newly discovered species. This shows that they have long, almost thread-like bodies, about 0.95 mm wide and 95.7 mm long. In total, the wondrous animal consists of a maximum of 330 segments. For comparison; the species you find in your own backyard often only have about fifteen. Each segment has one pair of legs, which means that there are largely thirty-legged centipedes walking around in the Netherlands.

A female Eumillipes persephone with 330 segments and 1306 legs. Image: Paul E. Marek, Bruno A. Buzatto, William A. Shear, Jackson C. Means, Dennis G. Black, Mark S. Harvey, Juanita Rodriguez, Scientific Reports

Eumillipes Persephone is actually quite a creep. Although he has a frighteningly many legs, he has no eyes at all. In addition, he has fairly short legs and a cone-shaped head, with spines and… a snout that looks a bit like a beak!

The front face of a male Eumillipes persephone. Image: Paul E. Marek, Bruno A. Buzatto, William A. Shear, Jackson C. Means, Dennis G. Black, Mark S. Harvey, Juanita Rodriguez, Scientific Reports

Related

Further analysis suggests that Eumillipes Persephone is distantly related to the famous species Illacme plenipes, the previous record holder for the number of legs. Why do they both have so many limbs? The researchers suspect that the large number of segments and legs allow them to squeeze themselves effectively through narrow openings. And that comes in handy in the areas in which they live and move – far underground.

The results of this study highlight the amazing biodiversity in Australia’s Goldfields-Esperance region. To reduce the impact of mining in this area on Eumillipes Persephone To keep it as small as possible, the researchers would like to see measures taken to protect and preserve the underground habitat.