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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 1: Species Rediscovered

If you look under a rock, in a pile of leaves, or in other dark places, you might find a millipede. A rare species of millipede was recently rediscovered in California. It is special because it has so many legs.

Because millipedes curl up to defend themselves, it might be difficult to see that they actually do not have a thousand legs. The name millipede means one thousand legs, but most millipedes only have 80 to 400 legs. This new millipede, I. plenipes, has over 600 legs! This creature was discovered 40 years ago in California according to Nature magazine; no one has seen it again until now.

Even though this millipede has 600 legs, it is a very slow mover. Its legs are short, so burrowing into the ground is easy, but running is not. I. plenipes, like all millipedes, is not dangerous or poisonous. However, if you annoy a millipede, it may become very smelly.

--Written by Katheryn Troyer

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2: Oldest Fossils Found