Overview
The Persephone Millipede (Eumillipes persephone) is an extraordinary subterranean myriapod discovered in 2020 at depths of up to 60 meters underground in the Goldfields region of Western Australia. Named after Persephone, the mythological Greek goddess of the underworld, this astonishing animal shattered biological records as the very first ‘true millipede’ ever discovered, with verified specimens possessing up to an incredible 1,306 individual legs.
Biology and Physical Characteristics
The morphology of Eumillipes persephone is a masterclass in extreme troglomorphic adaptation. Its body is hyper-elongated and thread-like, consisting of up to 330 diplosegments while measuring less than one millimeter in diameter. It is completely eyeless (anophthalmic) and lacks pigmentation, displaying a pale translucent-cream cuticle. Its conical head features a beak-like feeding apparatus and stout, sensory-rich antennae that guide its undulating crawl through micro-fissures in ancient subterranean ironstone formations.
Behavior and Ecology
Eumillipes persephone spends its entire life cycle in total darkness tens of meters beneath the arid Australian desert surface, inhabiting cool, humid micro-fissures where temperatures hover around 22°C. The massive multiplication of short, powerful legs generates immense longitudinal pushing force, allowing the animal to wedge its thread-like body through tight compacted rock strata and clay veins. It feeds on subterranean fungal hyphae and bacterial biofilms sustained by percolating groundwater.
Conservation and Human Impact
Because Eumillipes persephone is known only from a handful of deep mineral exploration boreholes in Western Australia, it is acutely vulnerable to intensive open-pit gold, nickel, and iron mining operations. Large-scale surface excavations, deep groundwater extraction, and chemical leaching can permanently destroy or dewater fragile subterranean micro-cavities. Conservation biologists are collaborating with mining firms to establish mandatory subterranean fauna impact surveys and underground buffer zones.
Interesting Factoid
Until Eumillipes persephone was discovered in 2020, no millipede on Earth had ever been found with even 1,000 legs; premier female specimens of this species possess up to 1,306 legs, making it the leggiest creature on the planet.
Last updated: October 2026