Millipedes Colonized Land 80 Million Years Before Vertebrates, Study Finds

← SIGNALS[SCIENCE]
Millipedes Colonized Land 80 Million Years Before Vertebrates, Study FindsResearch indicates that millipedes may have first emerged on land around 460 million years ago, significantly earlier than the arrival of vertebrates.
Editorial Staff / June 14, 2026 / 1 MIN READ

A recent study suggests that millipedes were crawling on land approximately 460 million years ago, predating vertebrates by about 80 million years.

This finding alters our understanding of how ancient species colonized terrestrial environments.

Additionally, the research provides new insights into the evolutionary history of millipedes, completing their family tree.