World’s leggiest creature found in California

After eight decades out of sight, scientists have eventually discovered the rare millipede species known to have twice more the legs than the normal bug.

A millipede, no wider than fishing line, was rediscovered, last fall, in a remote part of the fertile region just southeast of Santa Clara County, in central California, by a 28-year-old scientist from East Carolina University at Greenville, Paul Marek and Jason Bond.

Called Illacme plenipes, Latin for ``plentiful feet,'' was first discovered by a government scientist in 1926 in the same area of San Benito County, about 120 miles southeast of San Francisco, who counted up to a record 750 legs. This creature had not been seen in California for 80 years and given up for dead, or perhaps squished.

Marek and Bond found the bug last fall, when exploring a valley of oak trees. The extremely happy scientists collected a dozen specimens. The biologists captured four male, three female and five juvenile specimens.

The inch long creature has more than 600 legs. Female millipedes are longer than the male and have more legs than males and continue to add legs even after reaching sexual maturity. No one knows why.

About their discovery which has been published in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature, entomologists Paul Marek and Jason Bond said, “It was extremely exhilarating,” and “Because of the rarity and narrow geographical range of this delicate species, its fragile habitat must be protected at all costs.”

According to a Press report, millipedes flourish around the world in temperate and tropical zones. These creatures feed on plant material and tend to hide under moist soil, wood piles and rocks.

Although millipede means 1,000 legs but most species have only about 300. San Benito County millipede has got more legs than the members of the California Legislature, the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco Ballet combined.

Scientists say, the rediscovered bug, similar to those found in Burma and southern Africa is a mysterious creature. Although researchers know it's long, lean and extremely hairy, there is still much to be learned about the millipede that comes closest to having the mythical 1,000 legs. They reported, on its back are hairs that secrete a “silk-like substance” whose function is not known. Its glandular openings have “bizarre, almost gothic ornamentation.”

“It's a priceless discovery,” Marek said. “I definitely had to sit down for a little bit.”

Some of the millipedes have been reserved for future DNA testing at Marek's lab in North Carolina whereas others have been shipped out to the Field Museum in Chicago for further study.