Two New Dragon-Like Millipedes Discovered in Thailand — Meet the "Princess" Dragon Millipede

Two New Dragon-Like Millipedes Discovered in Northern Thailand

In 2024, a field team working around Pha Daeng Cave in northern Thailand discovered two dragon-like millipedes mating on a rock. Detailed study revealed these animals did not match any described species in the genus Desmoxytes, and the researchers concluded they had found previously unknown species. Their results were published in 2025 in the journal Tropical Natural History in a paper titled "Integrative Taxonomy Reveals Two New Dragon Millipede Species in the Genus Desmoxytes Chamberlin, 1923 from Thailand (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae)."

Appearance and name. One of the newly described millipedes, given the common name princess dragon millipede, is roughly an inch long with elongated legs and prominent spike-like projections on each of its 20 body segments — a morphology that evokes classic, serpentine dragon imagery with rows of spines along the back. The common name honors Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand for her support of environmental research and conservation.

How the team documented the discovery. Researchers photographed specimens in the field and used high-powered microscopy on gold-coated samples to reveal fine structural details of body parts. They compared these anatomical characters with those of previously described species in Desmoxytes to determine where the new specimens fit within the genus.

Genetic analyses and phylogeny. The team extracted DNA from leg and body tissue and sequenced three gene regions commonly used in millipede systematics. Genetic comparisons showed the two new species differ from known Desmoxytes by approximately 10–18% in the regions sampled. Phylogenetic analyses placed each new species on its own branch of the tree, indicating they share ancestry with other dragon millipedes but followed separate evolutionary paths.

Habitat and distribution. Field notes report the princess dragon millipede has so far only been observed at the Pha Daeng Cave site, where the humid limestone environment appears to support its presence. Individuals were located on high rock faces that required researchers to climb, suggesting a preference for particular microhabitats. The authors recommend broader surveys across similar limestone habitats in Thailand to determine the species' full distribution.

Limitations and future work. The authors caution that their genetic conclusions are based on only three genes, which may not resolve deeper or more complex evolutionary relationships. They recommend additional genetic markers, whole mitochondrial genomes, or even whole-genome sequencing in future studies to clarify lineage histories and diversification within Desmoxytes.

Discoveries like this underscore how much biodiversity remains undocumented and highlight the value of combining careful fieldwork, microscopy, and modern genetics.

Context. Dragon millipedes are grouped into several lineages with dozens of known species, and taxonomic work has accelerated recently thanks to improved genetic methods. While far short of the extraordinary leg counts reported for species such as Eumillipes persephone, these new Desmoxytes species expand our understanding of millipede diversity and point to rich, understudied cave and limestone ecosystems in Southeast Asia.

Conservation note. Because the princess dragon millipede is currently known from a single site, additional surveys and habitat protection measures may be important to ensure its long-term survival, especially given the sensitivity of cave and karst environments to human disturbance.