After 80 years, rare millipede resurfaces

? Millipede means “thousand-legged.” But most species of the creature actually only have about 300 legs.

The approximately inch-long I. plenipes – found only in California – actually comes close to living up to its name, boasting more than 600 legs.

Until last fall, the rare species hadn’t been seen for 80 years.

A 28-year-old scientist from East Carolina University, Paul Marek, chanced upon it while exploring a lush valley of oak trees in San Benito County with his brother.