Giant millipede rediscovered in Madagascar after 127 years

Researchers combing through an area in Madagascar have made a significant discovery. They came across a giant millipede, a representative of a species last seen over 120 years ago.

The millipede in question, Spirostreptus sculptures, was found in the Makira forest, one of the largest protected areas in Madagascar. Researchers also discovered 20 other "lost" species of animals, including beetles, fish, and spiders, but their reports focus mainly on the giant millipede.

What is particularly interesting is that Spirostreptus sculptus is a species discovered and described by entomologist Henri de Saussure and naturalist Leo Zehntner in 1897. The Swiss scientists encountered this previously unknown species in Madagascar.

Since then, scientists have never documented Spirostreptus sculptures again. That changed only now, after 127 years, thanks to researchers working on the "Search for Lost Species" project, which aims to find animals not seen for at least 10 years but not considered extinct.

"Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot and Makira is an underexplored area within the country, so we decided to pilot a new model for lost species searches there. We convened a group of scientists to search for as many species as possible, and it proved successful," explained Christina Biggs, a specialist in lost species, in a statement sent to the IFLScience editorial board.

Like other millipedes, Spirostreptus sculptures have two pairs of jointed legs on most of their body segments. It is dark brown and grows to a considerable size. Scientists revealed that the female they measured was 11 inches long.

"It’s important to continue researching the biodiversity of Makira because although it is one of the largest rainforests in the country, we still have relatively little idea which species occur, and there are likely to be many completely undescribed species as well," added Julie Linchant from the Wildlife Conservation Society Madagascar.