Posted on 08/21/2013 9:01:34 PM PDT by TexGrill
A new species of velvet worm has been discovered in the jungles of Vietnam. Unlike related velvet worms, however, this one has uniquely shaped hairs that cover its body, and it reaches a length of 2.5 inches long, said Ivo de Sena Oliveira, a researcher at the University of Leipzig, Germany, who described the species in Zoologischer Anzeiger.
The paper suggests that thousands of unknown species of velvet worms are just waiting to be found throughout the world's tropical rain forests. Oliveira's research suggests that in the Amazon rain forest alone, there may be a new species of velvet worm about every 15 miles.
Velvet worms are very difficult to find and are little known because they spend much of their lives hidden in moist areas in the soil, under rocks, or in rotting logs. They spend most of their time in this environments partially because their permeable skin makes them dry out quickly. The one time of the year that the Vietnamese species of velvet worm exits the soil is the rainy season.
The velvet worms' bodies are fluid-filled, covered in a thin skin and are kept rigid by pressurized liquid. This hydrostatic pressure is what allows them to walk, although very slowly, on fluid-filled, stubby legs that do not have any joints. The slowness, however, works to their advantage.
For hunting, the velvet worms sneak up on other insects or invertebrates. They hunt by spraying a net of glue onto their prey from two appendages on their backs. The "glue" material consists of a mix of proteins that impedes movement, so that the more the prey moves, the more it gets entangled. They usually choose to take down smaller creatures.
(Excerpt) Read more at clevelandleader.com ...
Somewhat varied from the slim-spitting vermin we encountererd there known as NVA.
Global Business spiT.
labolG ssenisuB Tips.
Hawaii has enough centipedes to creep me out, and no snakes............
Caption? “Mooch examines the diseased brain of an average loony lefty”
Mmmm, they look chewy, I like chewy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.