Giant millipede rediscovered after 127 years in Madagascar Makira forest

Researchers combing through an area in Madagascar have made a significant discovery. They came across a giant millipede, which turned out to be a representative of a species last observed over 120 years ago.

Spirostreptus sculptus, the millipede in question, 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, Spirostreptus sculptus had never been documented again by scientists. That changed only now, after 127 years, thanks to researchers working on the "Search for Lost Species" project, which aims to find animals that have not been seen for at least 10 years but are not considered extinct.

"Madagascar boasts immense biological diversity, and Makira is an under-researched area in this country, which is why we decided to search for lost species specifically in this location," explained Christina Biggs, a specialist in lost species, in a statement sent to the IFLScience editorial board.

Like other millipedes, Spirostreptus sculptus has two pairs of jointed legs on most of its body segments. It has a dark brown colour and grows to a considerable size. Scientists revealed that the female they measured was 28 centimetres long.

"It is essential to continue research on Makira's biodiversity, as it is one of the largest rainforests in the country, and we still have relatively little understanding of which species inhabit it. There are likely many completely undescribed species still out there," added Julie Linchant from the Wildlife Conservation Society Madagascar.