Velvet worm
Scientific Name: Peripatus
Order & Family: Order: Euonychophora; Family: Peripatidae
Size: Typically 0.5 to 15 centimeters (0.2 to 6 inches) in length.
Natural Habitat
Tropical and subtropical rainforests, dwelling in leaf litter, rotting logs, and damp soil.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; feeds on small invertebrates like crickets, spiders, and woodlice by ensnaring them with adhesive slime.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal ambush predators that use slime glands to eject a sticky fluid to immobilize prey. They are social animals often found in groups.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; they benefit ecosystems as apex invertebrate predators that control insect populations.
Identified on: 6/1/2026