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New Centipede Species

Oct. 17, 2026

Recently, researchers discovered three new centipede species from South India and named them as Rhysida quadrispinosa, Rhysida coorgensis and Rhysida neyyarensis.

About Rhysida quadrispinosa

  • It got its name from the Latin-derived term quadrispinosa.
  • It has four ventrolateral spines on its ultimate leg prefemur.
  • It features 18 antennal articles, unique body segment margination starting from tergites 7–11, and a distinct arrangement of spines on its ultimate legs.

About Rhysida coorgensis:

  • It is named after Coorg in Karnataka, where researchers first collected the specimen. 
  • It has a specific paramedian suture starting points on its back plates and unique coxopleural spine configurations

About Rhysida neyyarensis:

  • It is named after the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala, where it was discovered.
  • It is distinguished by its specific pattern of tarsal and tibial spurs, possessing two tarsal spurs on legs 1 through 19, alongside its own distinct spinal formula on the ultimate legs.

Key Facts about Centipede:

  • These are long, many-legged
  • Centipedes are not insects. They are arthropods in the myriapod group and belong to the class Chilopoda.
  • Habitat: They live in damp, sheltered places such as leaf litter, soil, under bark, beneath rocks and inside rotting logs.
  • Appearance: They have segmented bodies, antennae, breathing holes called spiracles and one pair of legs on each body segment.
  • Diet: Centipedes are Their first pair of legs has changed into venom claws, called forcipules, which help them catch and hold prey.

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