Tag: dragon millipede

At a monastery in Thailand, a “dragon”-like creature used its “long” pink legs to climb across the rocks toward a potential mate. Something about it caught the attention of visiting scientists — and for good reason.

It turned out to be a new species.

A team of researchers visited Nam Ok Ru Monastery in 2024 as part of a project to survey wildlife in “unexplored areas,” according to a study published Oct. 14 in the peer-reviewed journal Tropical Natural History.

While searching the area around the monastery, researchers climbed some rock formations and found dozens of unfamiliar-looking millipedes with colorful legs, the study said. They took a closer look at the animals, analyzed their DNA and quickly realized they’d discovered a new species: Desmoxytes sirindhornae, or Sirindhorn’s dragon millipede.

Sirindhorn’s dragon millipedes have about 20 body segments and can reach just over an inch in length, the study said. They have “slender” antennae and “long” pink legs. Pairs of “wing-like” spike structures jut out of their backs.

Photos show the brown and pink coloring of the new species.

Sirindhorn’s dragon millipedes “were observed crawling on rock walls or large limestone boulders with moist surfaces,” researchers said. One pair of millipedes were seen on top of each other and described as “amorous.” No millipedes were seen “on the ground or on tree branches.”

Researchers said they named the new species after Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand because her “remarkable contributions have significantly advanced biodiversity research and the preservation of Thailand’s natural heritage for future generations.”

So far, Sirindhorn’s dragon millipedes have only been found at Nam Ok Ru Monastery, a roughly 380-mile drive northwest from Bangkok and along the Thailand-Myanmar border, the study said. The new species may also live in “adjacent regions of Myanmar.”

The new species was “easily” identified by its coloring, legs, body proportions, genitalia and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 10% genetic divergence from related species.

The research team included Ruttapon Srisonchai, Khanet Srikampha, Theemaporn Benchapong and Somsak Panha.

The team also discovered a second new species of dragon millipede at a cave.