The “dragon-like creatures” found in northern Thailand are two newly described millipedes, not dragons or lizards. Named Desmoxytes chaofa and Desmoxytes sirindhornae, they have rows of sharp, wing-like projections along their segmented bodies. Scientists identified them by combining anatomical study with DNA analysis. The species were formally described on October 14, 2025.
What are Thailand’s dragon-like creatures?
They are members of Desmoxytes, a genus commonly called dragon millipedes. The nickname refers to their spiny outline: each body segment bears lateral projections that give the animals an armored, jagged appearance. They are millipedes—myriapods—not insects, reptiles, or mythical creatures.
The two species described from northern Thailand are D. chaofa, from Mae Hong Son Province, and D. sirindhornae, from Tak Province. The formal description by Ruttapon Srisonchai, Khanet Srikampha, Theemaporn Benchapong, and Somsak Panha appeared in Tropical Natural History on October 14, 2025. Read the species description.
Where were the millipedes found?
Researchers encountered them during field surveys of northern Thailand’s limestone landscapes. At Pha Daeng Cave in Mae Hong Son, a 2024 survey involved climbing limestone formations and examining walls and crevices. Dozens of unfamiliar millipedes were found, including a mating pair on a rock surface. The animals were associated with damp limestone, where moss and plants growing in cracks help retain moisture. Read the field-survey report.
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Although the headline says the creatures “emerged” from caves, the reported finding is of millipedes observed on cave or limestone walls during surveys—not animals documented coming out of deep underground. The paper describes both species as narrow endemics currently known from limestone rock-wall habitats; it does not establish that they occur nowhere else.
How do the two species differ?
The available descriptions distinguish them by province, locality, coloration, anatomy, and genetic results. The reporting describes D. chaofa as dark brown, a color that can blend with humid brown or black rock. It also reports about 20 body segments and a maximum length just over one inch for the specimens described. Those measurements are reported for the study’s specimens, not as a universal size range for all individuals. See the additional species report.
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| Species | Province or locality | Reported appearance | COI divergence in the study |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desmoxytes chaofa | Mae Hong Son Province; the field survey included Pha Daeng Cave | Dark brown; body segments carry lateral spines | 10.67–18.67% |
| Desmoxytes sirindhornae | Tak Province; a specific cave locality is not stated in the cited reporting | Segmented, spiny dragon-millipede form; a distinct color description is not stated in the cited reporting | 10.05–17.91% |
The percentages are COI sequence divergences reported by Srisonchai and colleagues for comparisons in their 2025 study; they are not measures of physical distance or population size. The reported mean across comparisons for D. sirindhornae is 14.71%.
How did scientists determine they were new species?
The team used integrative taxonomy, assessing physical anatomy alongside molecular phylogenetics rather than relying on appearance alone. They examined morphological characters, including the male gonopod, a reproductive structure often useful for distinguishing millipede species, and analyzed three gene fragments: COI, 16S rRNA, and 28S rRNA.
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The resulting phylogeny supported both as distinct species. COI comparisons showed the divergence ranges listed above, helping separate each from related species in the study. DNA evidence was considered together with anatomical differences; a single percentage by itself is not the full basis for naming a species.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why does their limestone habitat matter?
The paper’s description of both millipedes as narrow endemics means their documented ranges are small and tied to limestone rock-wall habitats. That makes the condition of local caves and karst formations relevant to their conservation. The publication does not provide a formal population estimate, threat assessment, or confirmed conservation status, so those should not be inferred from the limited-range description alone.
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For visitors, the practical lesson is simple: avoid disturbing millipedes, moss, and other life on cave walls, and follow local cave-access rules. A small, specialized habitat can be easy to overlook, even when its animals are not readily visible.
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