After 80 years, rare millipede resurfaces
San Benito County, Calif. ? 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.