Scientists Describe Three New Centipede Species in South India

Scientists described three new species of centipedes in the genus Rhysida from southern India on 16 October 2026. The species are Rhysida quadrispinosa, Rhysida coorgensis and Rhysida neyyarensis. Their addition brings India’s known Rhysida species to 23. The research involved the Western Ghat Regional Centre of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), based in Kozhikode, and Malabar Christian College.

Centipede Classification and Identification

Centipedes belong to the class Chilopoda, a group of terrestrial arthropods. They are predators and have one pair of legs on each trunk segment. Their first pair of trunk appendages is modified into venom-bearing forcipules, which they use to capture prey. The three species were distinguished through examination of morphological features. Researchers used microscopes and digital cameras to study fine anatomical structures and compared them with established taxonomic records. Rhysida quadrispinosa is named for the four ventrolateral spines on the prefemur of its ultimate leg. The scientific names of the other two species refer to their collection locations.

Taxonomic Collections and Reference Databases

The specimens were unidentified centipedes held in the National Zoological Collection at the ZSI. Museum collections preserve biological specimens for research, identification and reference. Comparing specimens with previously described species helps taxonomists assess whether observed features represent a distinct species. Researchers consulted ChiloBase 2.0, an online database of centipede taxonomy. The species names link two specimens to specific places: Rhysida coorgensis is named after Coorg in Karnataka, where it was first collected, and Rhysida neyyarensis is named after Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala, where it was discovered.

Western Ghats Biodiversity

The Western Ghats are a mountain range running along India’s western side, through several states including Karnataka and Kerala. The region is recognised as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots and contains diverse habitats and endemic species. Its forests and protected areas support a wide range of animal and plant life.

Important Facts for Exams

• Centipedes belong to the arthropod class Chilopoda.
• Forcipules are modified appendages near a centipede’s head that deliver venom.
• The ZSI was established in 1916 and is headquartered in Kolkata.
• The Western Ghats were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012.

The three newly described species belong to the genus Rhysida, and their descriptions raise India’s known species count in that genus to 23. The Western Ghats contain habitats in both Karnataka and Kerala, the states associated with two of the species’ names.</final