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The World's Biggest Velvet Worms! |
What is a Velvet Worm?
Velvet
worms have legs like a caterpillar. Each leg can be shortened and bent
by
internal muscles. Isn't that cool? Velvet worms are so
different from other creatures that they are given a Phylum
all of their own (a phylum is the widest possible group of similar animals) - which scientists
call Onychophora.
They live in forests and are very colourful. Mostly they are just 1 or
2 inches (3-5 cm) long. The Velvet worms are the only phylum which has
no members that live in water! Some Velvet worms lay eggs, others
don't. They breathe through their
body surface. They have two antennae. Some species of velvet worm have
only
one eye. There are over 100 different types of Velvet worm known, and scientists are discovering more all the time.
What is the largest Velvet Worm?
The largest
velvet worm belongs to a species which doesn't even have a name! It
grows up to 22 cm long (9 inches), and lives in the jungles
of Costa Rica. The newborn
of this velvet worm is larger than the adults of most species! The
giant velvet
worm does not lay egg.
What do Velvet Worms eat?
Velvet worms are hunters - they'll sneak up on a tasty insect,
and squirt a sticky slime to catch it for its dinner.
They are able to squirt a distance of
up to 30 cm - that's 1 foot! They have fine toothlets which
they used to chew
up their food. Don't underestimate them for their size! They can even
chew up a large snails.
Where do Velvet Worms live?
Velvet worms prefer dark, humid places. They are found
in tropical rainforests, and as far south as Tasmania. Two
species live in the
cracks of the caves. Some people even like to keep Velvet
worms as pets!
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