India, Oct. 20 -- Researchers in Kerala and Karnataka have discovered three new centipede species in the Western Ghats, increasing India's Rhysida species count to 23.

Named Rhysida quadrispinosa, Rhysida coorgensis and Rhysida neyyarensis, species were identified through advanced anatomical analysis.

The discovery underscores the region's biodiversity and the ecological significance of small organisms in maintaining environmental balance.

Identifying new species is not easy, especially of centipedes. The organisms often differ only slightly, requiring analysis of body parts and shapes under microscope. However, researchers from Zoological Survey of India's Western Ghats Regional Centre and Malabar Christian College, both in Kozhikode,...