Giant millipede from the Andes has over 150 legs. It’s a new species in Colombia
Researchers have identified two new species of large millipedes from central and northern Colombia.
Both species are grouped under the newly created Colombocricus genus, according to a study published Aug. 26 in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Taxonomy.
The newest species, Colombocricus tegua, was found in the foothills of the Andes mountains in the department of Boyacá, researchers said.
It measures about 7.5 inches long and over half an inch wide. It has “short and slender” antennae and a “reddish brown” body made up of 40 body rings, or segments, according to the study. With two pairs of legs to each ring, the new species glides around on 160 legs.
“The new species is named in honor of the indigenous community ‘Tegua’, who inhabited the species’ type locality before colonization,” researchers said.
The second “large” species, Colombocricus fundipudens, was actually discovered in 1881 and was grouped into the Rhinocricus genus based only on incomplete descriptions of its legs and reproductive organs, according to the study.
Now, more than 100 years later, after examining recent specimens found in Santa Marta in northern Colombia, researchers have determined it belongs to the new Colombocricus genus.
Colombocricus fundipudens, is slightly larger, with 43 body rings and can measure up to 7.8 inches long, according to the study.
Researchers said many millipedes described from Colombia have a “very poor original description,” adding that the number of species may be much higher than what is currently recorded.
The research team included Patrícia Elesbão Silva Rodrigues, Daniela Martínez-Torres, Everton Nei Lopes Rodrigues and Antônio Domingos Brescovit.
This story was originally published August 29, 2025 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Giant millipede from the Andes has over 150 legs. It’s a new species in Colombia."
