New 'Maerdy Monster' millipede discovered at coal mine in first find of its kind in nearly 25 years
A new species of millipede has been discovered down a coal mine and nicknamed the "Maerdy Monster", experts have revealed.
The brown-coloured arthropod - believed to be the first millipede species to be found in the UK since 1993 - was discovered underneath a pile of stones by a team of naturalists who were studying Maerdy Colliery in the Rhondda Valleys of South Wales.
Experts have described the discovery of the creature, which is around 4cm long, as "hugely significant".
It's not every day that you find a species new to science
Scientist Liam Olds
Scientist Liam Olds said: "It's not every day that you find a species new to science. It shows you don't have to go to the Amazon to find new things."
Mr Olds, who studies insects, said he and his team, including millipede expert Christian Owen, were recording different life forms at the former working mine in December when they made their discovery.
"Under these stones and sleepers were brown millipedes unlike anything Christian had seen before," he said.
"He made the assumption these millipedes were merely an alternative colour form of an already existing but rare species known from numerous sites in South Wales.
"But after putting them under his microscope he recognised they were a completely different species."
Specimens were then sent to Dr Jörg Spelda at the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology in Germany, who confirmed the millipedes were "new to science".
Experts are now working to formally describe and name the species, which has been dubbed the "Maerdy Monster" after the coal mine it was found at.
Mr Olds, from Llantrisant, South Wales, added: "This discovery highlights the importance of conserving our colliery sites.
"Over the past several decades, these sites have become increasingly important places for wildlife."
