Three New Centipede Species Discovered in Western Ghats

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News: Researchers in Kerala and Karnataka have discovered three new centipede species in the Western Ghats.

About Three New Centipede Species Discovered in Western Ghats

Three new centipede species discovered in Western Ghats
Source: Research Matters
  • Researchers in Kerala and Karnataka have discovered three new centipede species in the Western Ghats.
  • The three species have been named –
    • Rhysida quadrispinosa
    • Rhysida coorgensis
    • Rhysida neyyarensis
  • Genus: They belongs to the centipede genus Rhysida Wood, 1862.

About Rhysida quadrispinosa

  • It has been named after the four distinctive spines on its legs.
  • Distinctive feature: It has four spines on the underside and lateral edge of a section of its hind legs.
  • It was found to have 18 segments in its antennae.

About Rhysida coorgensis

  • It has been named after the Coorg region of Karnataka.
  • Distinctive feature: It was identified by the distinctive markings on its back and the structure of the spines near the rear part of its body.
  • It shares some similarities with Rhysida ikhalama, but differences in its internal structures set it apart as a distinct species.

About Rhysida neyyarensis

  • It has been named after the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala.
  • Distinctive feature: It is characterised by the number and arrangement of the small spines on its legs.
  • Two tarsal spurs were found on each leg from the first through the nineteenth pair.

Note: With this discovery, the count of India’s Rhysida species reaches to 23.

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