Eumillipes

Eumillipes is a genus of millipede in the family Siphonotidae. It contains a single species, E. persephone, known from the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. The species was first collected in 2021, discovered in three drill holes, living at depths of between 15 metres (50 ft) and 60 metres (200 ft).^[1]

Its generic name, Eumillipes, means "true millipede" (or "true thousand feet"), referring to its possession of over 1,000 legs; its specific name, persephone, alludes to the Greek goddess of the same name, who was the queen of the underworld, in reference to its subterranean lifestyle.^[1][2][3]

First described in 2021, individuals reach up to 95 mm (3.7 in) in length, and about 1 mm (0.039 in) in diameter with 198 to 330 body segments and up to 1,306 legs, making it the species with the most legs on Earth and the first millipede discovered to have 1,000 legs or more.^[1][4]

It has a highly elongated body with a cone shaped head and unusually large, thick antennae. It is eyeless, a trait not found in any other Australian polyzoniidan.^[1] Its elongated shape, large number of legs, and eyeless condition is convergent with the distantly related Illacme plenipes of North America, the previous record holder with up to 750 legs.^[1][5][2] The large number of legs is believed to assist it with moving in its underground habitat, enabling it to crawl inside small crevices.^[4]

It varies from most members of Polyzoniida, with its elongated shape and thin body, as members of that order are usually shorter, with fewer legs and flatter dome-shaped bodies. Its inclusion in this order was based on analysis of its genome to determine a common ancestor.^[4]

Its diet and lifestyle details are unknown, but it is thought that it may feed on fungi growing on the roots of trees.^[4]

E. persephone, male, with 818 legs

Head of I. plenipes

I. plenipes with 618 legs

The large antennae, eyeless condition, and super-elongation of E. persephone is convergent with Illacme plenipes of North America