Scientists have described a new species of velvet worm from the Amazonian lowlands of Ecuador.
The Tiputini velvet worm (Oroperipatus tiputini) may look cute and cuddly but these millipede-like invertebrates have a secret (and very sticky) weapon that immobilises unsuspecting prey.
What is a Tiputini velvet worm?
It’s a velvet worm, or onychophoran, one of the very few groups of invertebrates that might be described non-controversially as ‘cute’.
Equipped with a multitude of legs, but lacking the hard exoskeleton of arthropods (to which they are closely related), these denizens of warm, humid forests look something like soft, cuddly millipedes.
Where does the Tiputini velvet worm live?
It is known only from a single area of old-growth forest in the Amazonian lowlands of northeast Ecuador, where specimens were found singly or in pairs, amongst leaf litter and vegetation close to the ground.
Why is it called the Tiputini velvet worm?
The specific name ‘tiputini’ honours the Tiputini Biodiversity Station, where all specimens have been found so far. As a common name, ‘Tiputini velvet worm’ is already catching on.
How is it different from other velvet worms?
It can be distinguished on the basis of the structure of its legs and the texture of its skin. Colour-wise, it is rather variable mix of yellows, oranges and browns.
The young have a repeating diamond pattern along their back, but this fades as they grow.
What does the Tiputini velvet worm eat?
Like other velvet worms, it is almost a certainly a predator that immobilises invertebrate prey with jets of sticky mucous fired from glands either side of its mouth. It seems to be most active at night.
One female collected by the biologists gave birth to a single live offspring, which remained in close contact with the mother.
For more information on, check out the Zoosystematics and Evolution research paper:
Images and video credit: Pedro Peñaherrera-R
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