A species once believed to be extinct was found in the Silicon Valley of California. It is in fact the leggiest creature known on the planet. Sporting 750 legs this 3 centimeter long millipede is smaller than our pinky finger and its name Illacme plenipes means "the acme of many legs." The species was first seen by governmental scientists in 1928 but because it kept such a low profile for the rest of the 20th century it was believed to be extinct. This species of millipede does in fact only have one thing in common with all the other species of millipedes and that is that none of them actually have 1000 legs. Other than that one factor this creature is set apart from all other millipedes.
Illacme plenipes' anatomy is so bizarre. This millipede has the ability to weave its own clothing by spinning silk from the long hair on their backs and because they are burrowing arthropods and they live so deep under group their have adapted claws onto the end of each leg. Each of these adaptions though are believed by scientist to help the millipede cling to subterranean rocks and adhere to the underside of boulders. Other anatomical structures that are surprising are their massive antennae, a jagged and translucent exoskeleton, and their mouth is specifically structured for piercing and sucking plant tissues. In my opinion, this creature has lived undetected for so long, and now with its discovery and its odd anatomical structures it will provide a whole lot more interesting research, that is if it doesn't slip away again with all the development that is destroying its habitat.
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