We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Biology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Velvet Worms?

Michael Anissimov
By
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 9,107
Share

Velvet worms are bizarre creatures living in leaf litter on the floors of tropical forests. They superficially resemble caterpillars and are called "worms with legs," but they're their own phylum, Onychophora, which means "claw-bearers." This is a reference to the small chitin claws on their stub feet. Growing to between 0.5 and 50 cm (0.2 - 12.5 in), with an average length of 5 cm (2 in) velvet worms are segmented animals with between 13 and 43 pairs of legs.

Velvet worms come in a variety of colors, including brown, white, blue, grey, pink, and red. They share similarities with both arthropods (like spiders) and annelids (like earthworms), but are considered more closely related to arthropods, even though it was thought for many decades they were more related to annelids. More distantly, they are related to nematodes and horsehair worms.

Velvet worms are believed to have existed in their current form for an extremely long time, maybe as long as 430 million years, when the first animals took to the land. For much of history, velvet worms lived all over the Earth, not just in tropical regions. Fossils resembling velvet worms, called lobopods, have been found in Cambrian strata, up to 540 million years ago, demonstrating the lineage is very old. An early form, Hallucigenia, is one of the most fascinating organisms in the famous Burgess shale formation. Unlike modern-day velvet worms, Hallucingenia was covered in long spikes.

Velvet worms are carnivores with an unusual way of eating. They seek out prey (small insects) with their antennae, then barrage it with streams of sticky glue-like substance dispensed from hoses on their head. These streams criss-cross, like a lasso around the victim. In a single attack, a large velvet worm may use up a shot glass worth of sticky glue to trap their victim. The velvet worm has a waterproof body immune to the effects of the glue, so once the target is trapped, it just goes up and injects digestive juices into it, slurping up the dissolved victim. The glue also has a toxic effect that slows down the prey.

Because of their ancient ancestry, bizarre appearance, and unusual eating habits, velvet worms have proven to be popular exotic pets.

Share
All The Science is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Michael Anissimov
By Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov is a dedicated All The Science contributor and brings his expertise in paleontology, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and futurism to his articles. An avid blogger, Michael is deeply passionate about stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and life extension therapies. His professional experience includes work with the Methuselah Foundation, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and Lifeboat Foundation, further showcasing his commitment to scientific advancement.
Discussion Comments
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov is a dedicated All The Science contributor and brings his expertise in paleontology, physics, biology...
Learn more
Share
https://www.allthescience.org/what-are-velvet-worms.htm
Copy this link
All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.