The giant millipede was recently discovered in an exotic and remote region of Cambodia in Southeast Asia. Scientists from the Natural History Museum in London were the first to collect specimens of this millipede back in 2016.
The species is believed to be native in the Cardamom Mountains of the Koh Kong Province in southeast Cambodia, but there is still much to learn about it.
The giant millipede (Desmoxytes purpurosea)is an arthropod that can grow up to 16 cm (or 6.2 inches) in length and 3 cm (or 1 inch) in diameter and is easily distinguishable by its color, which varies from purple-gray to bright red.
In addition to their impressive size, these millipedes are also known for their remarkable longevity; some live more than 10 years in captivity. Until recently, this species was unknown to science, and its discovery has provided insight into the very diverse ecology of this part of the world.
When did giant millipedes exist?
Giant millipedes have been around since the Carboniferous period, which was approximately 359–299 million years ago. During this time period, giant millipedes could grow up to two feet long, making them the largest land animals of that time.
They played a vital role in shaping their environment, as they fed on decaying plant matter, breaking down organic material which helped nutrient cycles within the ecosystems. Giant millipedes nowadays are much smaller, with the largest species growing up to 11 inches long.
They are important members of ecosystems, as they provide a food source for other organisms and break down organic matter to create nutrients for the soil.
What is the largest millipede ever existed?
The world’s largest known living species of millipede is believed to be the African Giant Black Millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas). Growing up to over 11 inches in length, these African native millipedes make an impressive presence in the invertebrate world.
As the largest species of millipede, the African Giant Black Millipede is often kept as a pet and kept in captivity. While these millipedes have a mildly toxic exoskeleton, they are mainly harmless and make interesting and low-maintenance pets for beginners.
Typically non-aggressive, these millipedes are known to be surprisingly docile when interacted with correctly.
How long have millipedes existed?
Millipedes have existed on Earth for over 400 million years and are thought to be among the earliest animals to have evolved a backbone. The earliest evidence of millipedes dates back from the Silurian period, some 430 million years ago.
Since then, millipedes have adapted and evolved in various ways, giving rise to more than 12,000 species that can be found on every continent except for Antarctica. Millipedes have survived multiple extinction events over the millennia and continue to play an important role in habitats around the world.
Are millipedes older than dinosaurs?
No, millipedes are not older than dinosaurs. While both have ancient origins, dinosaurs evolved during the Triassic period some 230 million years ago, while the earliest known millipedes only date back to the Silurian period, which was some 420 million years ago.
Therefore, dinosaurs are much older than millipedes.
Does a millipede have 1000000 legs?
No, a millipede does not have 1 million legs. The total number of legs on a millipede can vary depending on the species. The common banded millipede, the species most often seen in gardens, usually has around 80 legs.
Giant African millipedes can have up to 400 legs, but the world record for millipedes goes to the Illacme plenipes species, an endangered species of millipede native to California, which can possess up to 750 legs.
Millipedes actually have 2 sets of legs on each body segment, and on average, most species have around 40 – 400 individual legs.
Can giant millipedes hurt you?
No, giant millipedes cannot hurt you. However, they can secrete a defensive fluid that can cause skin and eye irritation in some people, so it’s best to not handle them. If a giant millipede is handled, it can curl up into a tight ball or flick tiny bristles from its body in defense.
These bristles can irritate and cause an allergic reaction in humans. The defensive fluids from the millipede can also leave stains on belongings if spilled. As long as you avoid coming into direct contact with their defensive fluids and bristles, giant millipedes should not be able to hurt you.
How big did prehistoric centipedes get?
Prehistoric centipedes were much bigger than their modern counterparts. Studies have shown that the largest prehistoric species of centipedes could reach up to 2.5 feet long, which is significantly larger than most modern species of centipedes, which typically range from 2-10 cm long.
To put it into perspective, the average prehistoric centipede was roughly 10 times larger than the average modern centipede! These prehistoric creatures likely did not just live in the sea, but also on land and in freshwater, although their terrestrial habitat has yet to be determined.
In terms of diet, fossil evidence such as fossilized digestive systems indicates that these ancient creatures were probably carnivorous, likely preying on other small invertebrates such as worms, insects, and other similar prey.
Did giant insects ever exist?
Yes, giant insects did once exist. Approximately 300 million years ago, during the Carboniferous Period, many different species of insects developed and grew much larger than the modern-day counterparts we see today.
These included dragonflies with wingspans of up to 2.5 feet, large cockroaches over 6 inches long, and even a hefty 8-inch-long millipede called Arthropleura. Fossilized remains of these giant bugs have been discovered around the world, and they show us that insect populations were very diverse during this prehistoric time.
Many of the giant insects of the Carboniferous Period have since gone extinct, although present-day species have managed to keep to a much more manageable size.
What made bugs so big?
Bugs have been around for an estimated 350 million years, and during that time, some bugs have grown to relatively large sizes. One school of thought is that climate change has made certain environments more conducive to their growth.
In areas with more temperate climates, bugs are able to survive longer and more easily, allowing them to reach larger sizes over time.
A second theory is that selective breeding has played a role. Some species, such as the rhinoceros beetles, have been selectively bred by humans over time, and larger individuals are often favored. This results in a spike in the size of subsequent generations.
It is also believed that large size is favored among some species of bugs as it helps them to better compete as a species in their evolutionary cycle. Bigger bugs are often better suited to defend themselves, hunt for food, and reproduce than smaller ones, and this trait has become more dominant over time.
Overall, the cause of large-sized bugs is likely multi-faceted. It is likely that over the centuries, different species of bugs have grown to large sizes due to a combination of environmental conditions, selective breeding, and evolutionary processes.
How big were bugs in dinosaur times?
Insects and other bugs existed during the time of the dinosaurs, although the fossil record of insect dinosaurs is sparse. Most evidence of insect life during the dinosaur age comes from isolated fossilized impressions of soft body parts such as wings, antennae, and feet, or from fossilized exoskeletons that have been found in dinosaur-era amber.
The fossil record suggests that insects during this period were generally smaller than modern day species. The largest prehistoric insect known is the extinct dragonfly-like Meganeura, which had a wingspan of up to 75 centimeters (30 inches).
It was a carnivore that fed on other insects and probably even small reptiles. Other insect fossils from the time of the dinosaurs include small, modern-looking beetles and ants, as well as long-legged flies and springtails.
The size of these insects ranged from several millimeters to several centimeters.
Insects of the dinosaur age would have played an important role in the food chains of the era. They would have provided food for larger animals and acted as pollinators for plant life. Many modern day insects are also believed to be descended from insects that existed during the time of the dinosaurs.
Overall, insects during the age of the dinosaurs were generally quite small, although some species such as Meganeura did reach much larger sizes than modern day insects. They would have played an important role in their ecosystem, and their descendants still have a significant impact on the environment today.
What dinosaurs had 1000000?
The answer to this question is not easy to answer because there is no one single dinosaur that had a million of anything. Dinosaurs were a very varied and diverse group of animals, so the kind of trait or feature required to have a million of something varies greatly depending on the species.
For example, some dinosaurs had many pointed teeth while others may have had more spots or even fewer feet.
Some dinosaurs, such as the Tyrannosaurus rex, may have had up to a million small bones that made up the skeleton. The Triceratops may have had up to one million small points along the bony plates of its head and body.
Other dinosaurs may have had millions of small scales on their skin, such as the armored ankylosaurus.
In some cases, certain dinosaurs may have produced millions or even billions of offspring over the course of their lifetimes. These offspring could have been eggs, offspring that hatched from eggs, or even offspring that were born live depending on the species.
Overall, dinosaurs had millions of different features and traits, so it is hard to say whether any one single species had a million of anything.
Are giant ants possible?
No, giant ants are not possible. Ants, like all other insects, are restricted to the size they can reach due to their bodily structure. Insects are so small because they receive oxygen through their exoskeletons, which means that the oxygen must be able to reach the entire body quickly and evenly.
If an insect were to increase in size, it would need to have a more powerful respiratory system to deliver oxygen, as well as muscles to move its larger body. In addition, larger insects would need stronger skeletons to support their increased weight and size.
Unfortunately, ants are not able to make these physiological changes.
While it may seem possible to genetically engineer giant ants, these modifications would drastically alter the species’ behavior and other features, making them unrecognizable from their tiny counterparts.
Secondly, manipulating their genetic code to include the necessary physiological changes and adaptations necessary for an increase in size would be incredibly complex, and the effort and cost of such an attempt would be immense.
Ultimately, giant ants are not possible.
When did millipedes first appear on Earth?
Millipedes first appeared on Earth during the Silurian period, around 425 million years ago. This was the earliest part of the Paleozoic era and was a time when the first land animals began to emerge.
During this period, the continents of the world were conjoined together to form a single supercontinent known as Pangea. It was during this period that millipedes first evolved, taking advantage of their environment to develop a hard exoskeleton and up to 750 legs.
Over time, they adapted to new climates and habitats across the planet, giving rise to the diverse species of millipedes we see today.
Where did millipedes evolve from?
Millipedes evolved from ancient invertebrates known as myriapods, which are part of the arthropod group. This group is from the Cambrian period, which ranges from 541 million to 485 million years ago.
Myriapods, which are five-segmented and typically have seven or more pairs of legs, are thought to have evolved from simple anamorphic worms known as Progonofiltriga which lived around 350 million years ago.
It is likely that the earliest millipedes descended from Euanthalia, which was an early myriapod during the late Silurian period. These early millipedes probably evolved during the Carboniferous period (358–298 million years ago).
Millipedes are considered living fossils due to their ancient origin and similarity to their ancient ancestors.