Introducing the new millipede, Illacme socal Marek & Shear, 2023. Discovered underground in the Los Angeles metro area, I. socal is a tiny underground burrower. At half a millimeter wide, 20 mm long, and appearing like a thread, we named it the “Los Angeles thread millipede”. pic.twitter.com/jM1kiwMBjG
— Millipede Lab (@apheloria) June 21, 2023
Illacme socal spends its entire life underground. With its 486 legs, small thin body, I. socal is an expert at burrowing. We recorded the first ever video of this millipede species moving underground. We found behaviors that appear to facilitate underground locomotion. pic.twitter.com/wNmnhK6ktT
— Millipede Lab (@apheloria) June 21, 2023
These include a sinuous and undulatory 3-dimensional movement; preferred locomotion through preexisting cracks largely by antennal sensation; compressible body segments (both extensibility and lateral elasticity); and crack enlargement through nodding and arching of the trunk. pic.twitter.com/7xB82O4T6Z
— Millipede Lab (@apheloria) June 21, 2023