Scientists who are studying the karst limestone areas of northern Thailand have found something quite interesting: a new type of millipede that looks like a “tiny dragon.” The critters, which have lengthy legs and spiky bodies, were initially seen mating on the moist walls of a cave. The Miami Herald says that this is the first time this rare species has been seen in person.
The find was made in the Pha Daeng Cave, which is in Mae Hong Son Province near the border with Myanmar. In 2024, a group of scientists went to the cave to examine the species that lived in the rocky walls and crevices of the karst environment that had never been seen before. They found the one-of-a-kind millipedes while searching these little, concealed spots on the rocks.
Say hello to the Desmoxytes chaofa
The experts determined that they had uncovered a new species after a lot of investigation. They called it Desmoxytes chaofa, which means “princess dragon millipede.”
The name is important since “chaofa” signifies “royal princess” in Thai. This name was chosen to honor Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for her work to preserve ecology and animals.
The princess dragon millipede is just around 1 inch long and has 20 body segments. Each part has little bumps and spikes that look like wings, which is what makes the creature look like a dragon. It can walk on rough ground easily because of its large legs and tiny antennae. The millipedes are dark brown, which helps them blend in with the moist, moss-covered rocks where they live.
Life, DNA, and Finding Out
The Pha Daeng Cave is chilly and moist, and it has little moss and plants that help keep the millipedes secure and healthy. Researchers saw the millipedes moving and mating on the rocks and wrote down what they saw to show that they were part of the cave ecology.
The scientists looked at the new millipede’s DNA and found that it was at least 10% different from other millipedes of the same kind, which proved that it was unique. The researchers found a second new species with pink legs when they were looking for the Desmoxytes chaofa.
On October 14, 2025, the journal Tropical Natural History published the complete article of this remarkable find. Every year, scientists find thousands of new species. This small, dragon-like millipede is a great example of how much we still don’t know about nature and how important it is to protect and explore biodiversity.