A novel specie of carnivorous centipede was discovered in the caves of Velebit Mountain in central Croatia . It ’s the deepest undercover - dwelling centipede known , and researcher have named itGeophilus hadesiafter Hades , who rule over the dead in the underworld of Hellenic mythology . The unexampled species is delineate inZooKeys .
The centipede was discovered by fellow member of the Croatian Biospeleological Society in the sour vault of three caves . A sum of four have been found , and the deepest one was dwell at an out of reach spot 1,100 meters ( 3,600 foot ) below the aerofoil in Lukina jama – Trojama , the 15th deepest cave in the world . The other two caves were Muda labudova and Munižaba ( its entrance is fancy below ) .
The Hades centipede has 33 pairs of legs , and it ranges between 2.2 to 2.8 centimeter in duration . Like most cave - dwellers , Geophilus hadesisports a suite of unusual trait , including elongate trunk section , leg claws , and antennae about five clip as long as its mind . The centipede from hell is a top predator too . It feed on other invertebrates with its powerful jaw hold toxicant glands and long curved claws that tightly grasp onto larvae and other little cave crawlies .
" When I first saw the animal and its prominent appearance , I immediately realized that this is a new , hitherto unnamed and extremely adapt to cave environment species,“Pavel Stoev from Bulgaria ’s National Museum of Natural Historysays in astatement . " This finding comes to prove once again how little we know about the life in caves , where even in the best prospect areas , one can still find unbelievable animals . "
The new specie belong to the decree Geophilomorpha , but most other centipedes in this mathematical group only occasionally domiciliate in caves . Those whose entire life rhythm are confined to these environments are exceedingly rare . In fact , the newGeophilus hadesiandGeophilus persephones(named in 1999 after Hades ’ Saint Bridget , Persephone ) are the only two geophilomorphs that have conform to living solely in caves .
Researchers are n’t certain why these hellish centipedes started living underground to start with . As Stoev tellsLive Science : " It could be a dramatic change in the outside temperatures and overall conditions that coerce less - adaptive organisms to seek shelter underground where the stipulation are more static and less dependent on the outside wavering . "
The entrance of cave Munižaba . D. Bakšić CC - BY 4.0
