{"id":39757,"date":"2024-07-05T09:51:01","date_gmt":"2024-07-05T07:51:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/3e09baa9-d2c9-4b3e-b654-3495263c3d70"},"modified":"2024-07-05T11:27:29","modified_gmt":"2024-07-05T09:27:29","slug":"cute-but-deadly-velvet-worm-discovered-in-tropical-forest-of-ecuador-fires-goop-from-mouth-to-kill-prey","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/cute-but-deadly-velvet-worm-discovered-in-tropical-forest-of-ecuador-fires-goop-from-mouth-to-kill-prey\/","title":{"rendered":"Cute but deadly velvet worm discovered in tropical forest of Ecuador fires goop from mouth to kill prey"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s the first newly described species of Ecuadorian velvet worm for over 100 years, say scientists. <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Friday, 05 July 2024 at 07:51 AM<\/p>

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Scientists have described a new species of\u00a0velvet worm\u00a0from the Amazonian lowlands of Ecuador.<\/strong><\/p>

The Tiputini velvet worm (Oroperipatus tiputini<\/em>) may look cute and cuddly but these millipede-like invertebrates<\/a> have a secret (and very sticky) weapon that immobilises unsuspecting prey.<\/p>

The Tiputini velvet worm (Oroperipatus tiputini) lives in the warm, humid forests of northeast Ecuador. Credit: Pedro Pe\u00f1aherrera-R<\/figcaption><\/figure>

What is a Tiputini velvet worm?<\/h2>

It\u2019s a velvet worm, or onychophoran, one of the very few groups of invertebrates that might be described non-controversially as \u2018cute\u2019. <\/p>

Equipped with a multitude of legs, but lacking the hard exoskeleton<\/a> of arthropods (to which they are closely related), these denizens of warm, humid forests look something like soft, cuddly millipedes<\/a>.<\/p>

Where does the Tiputini velvet worm live?<\/h2>

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.\u00a0<\/p>

Watch: the newly described Tiputini velvet worm is a variable mix of yellows, oranges and browns. Credit: Pedro Pe\u00f1aherrera-R<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Why is it called the Tiputini velvet worm?<\/h2>

The specific name \u2018tiputini<\/em>\u2019 honours the Tiputini Biodiversity Station<\/a>, where all specimens have been found so far. As a common name, \u2018Tiputini velvet worm\u2019 is already catching on.<\/p>

How is it different from other velvet worms?<\/h2>

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. <\/p>

The young have a repeating diamond pattern along their back, but this fades as they grow.\u00a0<\/p>

\"Velvet
The Tiputini velvet worm shoots jets of sticky mucous from its mouth to immobilise invertebrate prey. Credit: Pedro Pe\u00f1aherrera-R<\/figcaption><\/figure>

What does the Tiputini velvet worm eat?<\/h2>

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. <\/p>

One female collected by the biologists gave birth to a single live offspring, which remained in close contact with the mother.<\/p>

For more information on, check out the Zoosystematics and Evolution research paper<\/a>:<\/p>

Images and video credit: Pedro Pe\u00f1aherrera-R<\/em><\/p>

More weird and wonderful wildlife<\/strong><\/p>