Scientists have discovered a new worm with 414 legs. What is the millipede called?

a. Illacme tobini

b. Illacde tobini

c. Millacde tobini

d. None of the above

ANSWER: Illacme tobini

Explanation:

Scientists have discovered a bizarre new worm with 414 legs, 200 poison glands and silk-secreting hair. This belongs to the millipede family

The worm was discovered hiding in dark marble caves in the Sequoia National Park, California

In terms of its physical and genetic description, it appears to be a millipede’s evolutionary cousin namely the Illacme plenipes which has 750 legs

The worm was found by Jean Krejca of Zara Environmental LLC exploring caves with the team

They also discovered and catalogued many spiders, pseudoscorpions and flies besides threadlike millipede

The new millipede is named after cave biologist Ben Tobin

It was sent to diplopodologists or scientists who specialise in the study of millipedes

The new species possess only 414 legs compared to the relative’s 750

It has a similar complement of unique and bizarre anatomical features including a body with 200 poison glands, silk secreting hair and much more

Its whole body is covered with long hair that exudes silk- it has paired nozzles on each of its over 100 segments that squirt a defence chemical of an unknown nature

By exploring the world and documenting the biodiversity of this planet, we can deal with anonymous extinction- a process which a species goes extinct before one knows of its role in the ecosystem, potential benefit to humanity, or unique beauty