#polyxenida

Millipedes are known for having lots and lots of legs, but not all of them can live up to the hype. One of the smallest millipedes, the bristly millipede, has only 13 pairs of legs! But that's still quite a lot when you consider that adults are only 4 mm (0.15 in) long.

their binomial name roughly translates to Bizarre Bunnytail. (if only myriapods could afford cutesy common names maybe people would like them more!)

within the class Diplopoda (millipedes), polyxenidans are only distantly related to the roundbacked and flatback types that are more familiar.

accordingly their anatomy is pretty distinct at a glance—in addition to having relatively few segments, polyxenidans lack a hard exoskeleton and have no poison glands for defense. instead, the hair in their little cottontails has microscopic hooks that lock onto multiple setae hairs of an ant or other predator, Velcro-ing them sometimes to the point of immobility!

they’re also remarkably perceptive and hard to sneak up on! I spent a few minutes chasing them across a couple inches of slate while they hauled their fluffy tails away from me.