Velvet Worms (Peripatus)

Peripatoides novaezelandiae:
Unchanged for 570 million years, Peripatus share traits with annelids (segmented worms) and arthropods (insects, crustaceans, arachnids) yet appear much like a caterpillar. Eggs hatch inside the female and she then gives birth to the live young. Peripatoides novaezelandiae have 15 pairs of legs and grow up to 80mm (3.15").

From Wikipedia:
Peripatus feeds by trapping its prey (mostly small insects) in a white, sticky fluid it ejects from two antennae near its head. The fluid hardens on contact with the air immoblizing the prey. Peripatus then chews a hole in its prey's exoskeleton with its mandibles (which move independently of each other), injects digestive enzymes, and begins sucking out its prey's pre-digested innards.

Music by Precarious

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Velvet Worms
• Peripatus
• new zealand

[Andyfrog321]

How do you heat your mantids?

Heat mats?

Ceramics?

[precarious333]

@Andyfrog321

I raise them room temp. I use a normal utility lamp occasionally if I want to add heat.

[Mantidinsectworld]

Do they pupate and turn into something?

[precarious333]

@Mantidinsectworld

No, that's one of the things that makes them special. ;-)

[gua0004]

cute, how big do they get?

[precarious333]

@gua0004

80mm

[GirtopolisArashiki]

Gross!! But cute idk...

[manamike607]

I have to see this thing catch and eat prey.

[monitorlover1]

lucky I would kill for a couple

[JakesJayas]

awesome i have always wanted a few as pets do you now of anyone who ships them to canada