Millipedes were crawling across Earth's landscapes nearly 460 million years ago, long before vertebrates ventured onto land, according to a new study published in ScienceDaily. The research finally completes the evolutionary family tree of these ancient arthropods, shedding light on their early history.
The study uncovers surprising clues about millipedes as ancient ecosystem engineers, suggesting they played a key role in shaping early terrestrial environments. Their early chemical defenses also appear more sophisticated than previously thought.
While the study does not provide specific numerical data on diversity or timing, it emphasizes the 80-million-year gap between millipede and vertebrate land colonization. The findings are based on fossil evidence and genetic analysis, though exact counts are not disclosed.
These results reshape understanding of terrestrial evolution, indicating that complex ecosystems emerged much earlier than assumed. Millipedes may have helped break down organic matter and aerate soil, paving the way for later land-dwelling organisms.
Experts caution that the fossil record remains incomplete, and some evolutionary branches may be missing. Further fieldwork is needed to confirm the timeline and extent of early millipede diversity.