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Proceedings of the International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 2011, 1(2): 145-150
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Unusual death of millipedes (Diplopoda) towards the north of the Varkala Cliff section near Papanasam, Kerala, India

P.K. Sarkar, S. N. Mude, Madhuri Ukey
Department of Geology, Fergusson College, Pune-411 004, Maharashtra, India

Received 10 May 2011; Accepted 15 June 2011; Published online 28 August 2011
IAEES

Abstract
The cliff section at Varkala, Kerala consisting of clay, lignite band, clay, sandy-clay, sandstone of Mio-Pliocene age. This sedimentary sequence is overlain by a thick laterite. Above the lower lignite band, in the exposed clay beds several struggling and dead millipedes can be observed. Their death is probably due to the action of dehydration related to the sulphuric water infiltration in the sediments. However, it still remains a mystery why these millipedes choose such a toxic environment to create their habitat?

Keywords unusual death; millipedes; India.

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