‘Maerdy Monster’ is discovered at former coal site
A MILLIPEDE has been found in South Wales that experts have confirmed is “new to science”.
It has provisionally been dubbed the “Maerdy Monster” by the scientific world, and was found at the end of last year by a group of naturalists while surveying a former colliery site in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
After checking with national experts from across the country and overseas, the millipede, which was found at the former Mardy Colliery in the Rhondda Valley, has been called a “hugely significant discovery”.
Liam Olds explores historical Valleys spoil tips, studying the environment after launching the Colliery Spoil Biodiversity Initiative.
He said: “It’s not every day that you find a species new to science. It shows you don’t have to go to the Amazon to find new things.
“This discovery highlights the importance of conserving our colliery sites.
“Over the past several decades, these sites have become increasingly important places for wildlife.
“It has become apparent that these sites are acting as an important refuge for a range of scarce and rare species rapidly declining in the wider countryside. The discovery of a species new to science is testament to this.”
According to Liam, who works closely alongside Rhondda Cynon Taf council to carry out scientific research to promote the spoil tips, the discovery was made on December 5, when a group of local naturists met at the former Mardy Colliery site for an informal event called BioBlitz.
Their aim was to record as many species of invertebrate, fungi, bryphytes and lichens as possible on the site.
It was organised by Emma Williams, who runs the Glamorgan Fungus Group, and was attended by a group including local millipede expert Christian Owen.
They set off on their walk around the site at 10.30am on the day, but it wasn’t long before they made the discovery after turning over some stones.
Liam, who is from Coed-Ely, near Llantrisant, said: “Under these stones and sleepers were brown millipedes unlike anything Christian had seen before.
“Somewhat resembling another species, he made the assumption that these millipedes were merely an alternative colour form of an already existing but rare species known from numerous sites in South Wales.”
But after collecting a number of specimens from the colliery tip, Christian later examined them under the microscope and recognised they were a different species.
According to Liam, Christian then sent them to national expert Steve Gregory, from the British Myriapod and Isopod Group, who confirmed they were “unlike any other species currently known from the British Isles”.
Further specimens were then sent to Dr Jörg Spelda at the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology in Germany to see if he recognised it.
He swiftly replied with a provisional identification of the “Turdulisoma” family, but was unsure of the exact species.
Then, earlier this month, after extensive research, Dr Spelda confirmed the millepede was in fact a species “new to science”, and Liam said it has been dubbed the “Maerdy Monster” by the scientific world.
Work will now begin to formally describe the species, during which it will be given a scientific name.
Liam added: “The Rhondda valleys, once famous for coal production and awash with heavy industry, are perhaps an unlikely source for new scientific discoveries, but this is a hugely significant find for the Rhondda, Wales and Britain.”