Desmoxytes purpurosea
| Desmoxytes purpurosea | |
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| Desmoxytes purpurosea | |
The shocking pink dragon millipede[1] (also called the dragon millipede[2] (Desmoxytes purpurosea) is a millipede which has a bright pink color on its spiny body). It is very toxic. They have glands that release cyanide to protect them from predators.
The millipede has glands that produce hydrogen cyanide to protect it from predators,[3] a fact advertised by its aposematic color. Because it produces cyanide, it smells like almonds.[4]
It is one of a thousand new spcies found in the Greater Mekong region in the last ten years.[5] It can be found at the Tai side of the Mekong river.[6]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ National Geographic this is its real name
- ↑ "CBSnews.com". CBS News. Archived from the original on 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
- ↑ "Cyanide Millipede, Huge Spider Among New Species". National Geographic Society.
- ↑ Enghoff, Henrik; Sutcharit, Chirasak; Panha, Somsak (2007). "The shocking pink dragon millipede, Desmoxytes purpurosea, a colourful new species from Thailand" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1563: 31–36. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1563.1.3. ISSN 1175-5326.
- ↑ National Geographic
- ↑ Fox news