Researchers have formally described two new dragon millipede species from northern Thailand: Desmoxytes chaofa from Mae Hong Son Province and Desmoxytes sirindhornae from Tak Province. Both are tiny, spiny arthropods found on damp limestone walls—not dragons, insects, centipedes, or newly discovered pets.
The species were identified through an unusually strong combination of physical anatomy and DNA evidence. Their discovery also highlights how Thailand’s limestone karst landscapes can shelter highly localized wildlife that scientists have only begun to document.
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What was discovered?
The discovery is a formal taxonomic description of two new species in the dragon-millipede genus Desmoxytes. The study was published on October 14, 2025, in Tropical Natural History, Supplement 8, pages 79–107.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →| Species | Known Thai locality | Notable features |
|---|---|---|
| Desmoxytes chaofa | Mae Hong Son Province, including the area around Pha Daeng Cave | Dark brown, well camouflaged against damp, mossy limestone; observed in a mating pair |
| Desmoxytes sirindhornae | Tak Province, including Nam Ok Ru Monastery | Brown-and-pink coloration with notably long pink legs |
Although news coverage has often presented the animals as “dragon-like,” the scientific finding is about two millipedes. “Dragon millipede” is a descriptive common name for spiny, often colorful members of several polydesmid millipede groups. It does not mean that these animals are related to mythical dragons.
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Where were the millipedes found?
The researchers encountered the animals during field surveys in northern Thailand in 2024. Both species were found on limestone karst surfaces, including moist rock walls and large boulders.
D. chaofa is associated with the Pha Daeng Cave area in Mae Hong Son Province. Observers reported seeing individuals on damp rock surfaces, including a mating pair. D. sirindhornae was found separately in Tak Province, including on moist limestone walls and boulders near Nam Ok Ru Monastery.
That distinction matters: the two species were not found together in one cave. The published study identifies them from separate provinces and describes their current habitat association more broadly as limestone rock-wall habitat. The evidence does not justify calling both species cave-exclusive.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteIn the observations reported for D. sirindhornae, no specimens were seen on the ground or tree branches. Instead, the millipedes were moving across wet limestone surfaces. This specialized habitat may help explain why related species can remain undiscovered even in areas that have been visited by people: they may occupy small, difficult-to-search patches of rock rather than broad forest floors.
Why do they look like tiny dragons?
Dragon millipedes have a distinctive silhouette. They have elongated, segmented bodies, slender antennae, long legs, and repeated projections along the back. Seen from above, those projections can look like rows of miniature wings, horns, or spines.
Both new species are a little over one inch long according to contemporary reporting based on the study. D. chaofa is described as dark brown, which provides useful camouflage on damp, moss-covered rock. D. sirindhornae stands out more because of its brown-and-pink body coloration and long pink legs.
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They are arthropods in the order Polydesmida and family Paradoxosomatidae. They are not insects: millipedes belong to the myriapods, a separate major group of arthropods. They are also not centipedes. As with other millipedes, their many legs are arranged along a segmented body, but the exact appearance and number of visible legs vary with the body segments and species.
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How did scientists know they were new species?
Appearance alone can be misleading in millipede taxonomy. Closely related species may have similar colors and body shapes, while small anatomical differences can be biologically important. The researchers therefore used an integrative-taxonomy approach, combining detailed morphology with molecular data.
The physical examination
Scientists compared body form, coloration, proportions, and other external features. They paid particular attention to the male gonopod, a reproductive structure commonly used to distinguish millipede species. The shape and arrangement of the gonopod provided important evidence separating the two Thai millipedes from known relatives.
The DNA analysis
The molecular work used three gene fragments:
- COI — cytochrome c oxidase subunit I
- 16S rRNA — a mitochondrial ribosomal RNA marker
- 28S rRNA — a nuclear ribosomal RNA marker
The genetic results supported the morphological conclusions. Reported COI divergence from related species ranged from 10.67% to 18.67% for D. chaofa and from 10.05% to 17.91% for D. sirindhornae, with a reported mean divergence of 14.71%.
The evolutionary tree placed D. chaofa closest to Desmoxytes octoconigera, while D. sirindhornae clustered with Desmoxytes des. In other words, the researchers did not declare the animals new simply because they looked unusual. Their anatomy and DNA placed them as distinct evolutionary lineages.
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Readers interested in the broader diversity and identification of these animals may find a millipede field guide useful, but no general guide should be expected to identify these newly described Thai species reliably unless it specifically includes the 2025 research.
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What do their names mean?
Both scientific names honor Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who is associated with support for biodiversity research, environmental protection, scientific collaboration, research institutions, and environmental education in Thailand.
The name chaofa refers to a royal princess in Thai usage. The name sirindhornae also recognizes Princess Sirindhorn’s contributions to Thailand’s natural heritage and biodiversity work.
English-language coverage may call D. chaofa the “Princess Dragon Millipede” and D. sirindhornae “Sirindhorn’s dragon millipede.” Those names are convenient descriptions, but the scientific names are the most precise way to refer to the species.
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Why does the discovery matter?
It adds to Thailand’s known biodiversity
The paper places Desmoxytes among eight recognized dragon-millipede genera and recorded 18 valid species in the genus at the time of publication. Adding two more species demonstrates that even a relatively well-defined group can contain undocumented diversity.
It shows the importance of limestone karst
Limestone landscapes are often treated as geological features, but they can also function as biological islands. Cliffs, caves, boulders, crevices, moisture pockets, and patches of forest may create highly distinct habitats. Species adapted to those conditions may have very small known ranges.
The researchers note that Desmoxytes species are generally associated with limestone areas and natural forests. More surveys in underexplored Thai karst regions could reveal additional species.
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It raises a conservation question without answering it yet
Both new millipedes currently have restricted known distributions and a specialized association with limestone rock walls. That makes habitat disturbance a reasonable conservation concern. However, the study does not establish an IUCN Red List category, population size, abundance, or a measured population decline for either species.
It would therefore be inaccurate to label them endangered or critically endangered based on this paper alone. The careful conclusion is that their apparent narrow habitat requirements make additional surveys and habitat monitoring worthwhile. Limestone quarrying, construction, tourism pressure, pollution, and changes to moisture conditions could be relevant issues in karst environments, but species-specific effects would require further research.
Are these millipedes dangerous or suitable as pets?
Nothing in the reviewed study establishes that either new species is venomous, poisonous, or dangerous to people. It also does not establish that they are available through the pet trade or suitable for captivity.
Because the species are newly described, geographically restricted, and known from sensitive limestone habitats, readers should not attempt to collect them, remove them from caves or rock walls, or treat a wild specimen as a potential pet. A photograph and precise observation location are more useful to science than taking an animal home. Any wild-animal encounter should follow local rules and avoid disturbing the habitat.
These are also not animals that should be confused with the millipedes commonly kept by hobbyists. A general care guide for captive millipedes cannot be assumed to apply to D. chaofa or D. sirindhornae.
The larger lesson from two small animals
The two Thai dragon millipedes illustrate why biodiversity research depends on more than dramatic, large-bodied animals. A millipede crossing a damp limestone wall may represent a lineage found nowhere else—or a clue that other localized species remain undocumented nearby.
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For now, the strongest claims are also the most precise: Desmoxytes chaofa and Desmoxytes sirindhornae are two formally described dragon millipede species from separate provinces in northern Thailand, supported by both distinctive anatomy and DNA evidence. Their discovery makes Thailand’s karst habitats scientifically more valuable and gives researchers a reason to keep looking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the two new Thai species actually dragons?
No. They are millipedes, which are myriapod arthropods. “Dragon millipede” describes their spiny, dragon-like appearance and is not a claim that they are related to mythical dragons.
Where were Desmoxytes chaofa and Desmoxytes sirindhornae found?
D. chaofa was associated with Mae Hong Son Province, including the Pha Daeng Cave area. D. sirindhornae was found separately in Tak Province, including near Nam Ok Ru Monastery. Both were observed on moist limestone walls or boulders.
Can people keep these dragon millipedes as pets?
The study does not establish either species as commercially available or suitable for captivity. Because they are newly described and known from restricted wild habitats, people should not collect them or remove them from Thailand’s limestone environments.
Are the new species endangered?
Their restricted known distributions and specialized limestone habitat may create conservation concerns, but the study does not assign either species an IUCN category or provide enough population data to call them endangered or critically endangered.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Thailand’s “new dragons” are two small, spiny millipedes—Desmoxytes chaofa and Desmoxytes sirindhornae—identified from separate northern provinces through matching anatomical and DNA evidence. Their limestone-wall habitat appears specialized, making further research and careful habitat protection more important than collecting them as pets.
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