Two new millipede species from Maharashtra and Kerala were discovered in the Western Ghats, enriching biodiversity. They play a key role as decomposers, supporting soil health and ecological balance.
Anshu Kashid
Pune| May 29, 2025 : In a significant discovery, two new species of millipedes—Polydrepanum xiphosum and Polydrepanum spinatum—have been found in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra and Kerala, as published in the New Zealand-based journal Zootaxa. These species belong to the genus Polydrepanum under the Paradoxosomatidae family, expanding the genus to six extant species, all endemic to the Western Ghats, highlighting the region’s rich and unique biodiversity.
The discovery was made by a platoon of Indian scientists Dr. Aparna Kalawate( Zoological check of India, Pune), Dr. Sudhikumar Ambalaparambil( Christ College, Kerala), and exploration scholars Muhsina Musthafa and Pooja Misal from Christ College and Shivaji University, independently.
India is home to 270 known millipede species, with over 70 aboriginal — numerous concentrated in the high- downfall biodiversity zones of the Western and Eastern Ghats. Millipedes are soil- dwelling decomposers playing a vital part in nutrient cycling and soil health. By riving factory waste and stimulating microbial exertion, they contribute to soil mineralization and nitrogen release, perfecting ecosystems. Despite only directly putrefying around 10 of factory waste, their feeding accelerates microbial breakdown, impacting up to 90 of total corruption.
Millipedes are harmless to humans, typically living in moist, organic-rich environments, and serve as indicators of environmental health. This discovery sheds light on the often-overlooked ecological importance of macro arthropods and the urgent need to conserve their natural habitats.
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