In the dense forests of the Western Ghats, where every leaf holds the secrets of evolution, scientists have once again reminded us that even the most inconspicuous creatures can rewrite our understanding of nature's richness.
Researchers from the Western Ghats Regional Centre of the Zoological Survey of India in Kozhikode and Malabar Christian College have described three new species of centipedes of the genus Rhysida. The species Rhysida quadrispinosa, Rhysida coorgensis and Rhysida neyyarensis were found in the forests of Kerala and Karnataka. Their discovery, published in the International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 12 October 2026, has brought the number of known species of this genus in India to 23.
Each new species stands out for its distinctive features. Rhysida quadrispinosa was named for the four spines on its hind legs, Rhysida coorgensis for the Kodagu region in Karnataka, and Rhysida neyyarensis for the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala. The scientists relied on detailed morphological analysis: the shape of the spines, the number of antennal segments and the structural features of the legs.
The Western Ghats are one of the world's centres of biodiversity and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, in the layer of fallen leaves and soil, centipedes act as natural regulators: they hunt small invertebrates and contribute to the cycling of nutrients. Their presence speaks to the health of the forest ecosystem.
The discovery was not made on expeditions, but while studying museum collections. This shows how much remains hidden even in specimens already collected, and how important it is to preserve not only the forests themselves but also scientific archives.
Every such discovery reinforces the understanding that protecting the Western Ghats is not an abstract task, but a concrete way to preserve the living connections on which the resilience of the entire ecosystem of the region depends.
