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Totally Radula!

Short answer: Velvet worms (Onychophora) are soft, many-legged invertebrates of humid tropical and southern temperate forests. They hunt small invertebrates by squirting a sticky slime from glands near the head that hardens and traps the prey, then inject saliva and eat it.

There are two living families, Peripatidae and Peripatopsidae, and species range from tiny to the largest known, Mongeperipatus solorzanoi of Costa Rica, at about 22 cm. Velvet worms live in Southeast Asia, but I couldn't verify a species called the 'giant red velvet worm' there or the 20 cm figure for it. The title's 'radula' is a pun: a radula is a mollusk's rasping tongue, which velvet worms don't have; they bite with jaws. The footage shows a reddish velvet worm walking over moss.

VideoWrite-up1 sources
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What should you know about Totally Radula!?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Velvet worms trap prey with sticky slime.

    DD-292-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Slime attack)

  2. The largest known velvet worm reaches about 22 cm.

    DD-292-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit D (Largest species)

Video transcript: Totally Radula!: Velvet Worms Catch Prey by Shooting Slime

DID YOU KNOW? The giant red velvet worm is a fascinating velvet worm found in the rainforests of Southeast Asia, noted for its striking reddish hue and impressive size reaching up to 20 cm in length. This invertebrate preys on insects and other small animals. It hunts using a unique method ejecting a sticky slime from its specialized glands to immobilize its prey before consuming it. The giant red velvet worm's unique appearance and predatory strategy make it a remarkable example of the diverse lifeforms in tropical ecosystems. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 26.3s Reel ·

Video coming soonTotally Radula! · Instagram Reel
Totally Radula!: Velvet Worms Catch Prey by Shooting Slime Instagram Reel · · 26.3s

The write-up

Velvet worms catch prey by shooting slime. The largest known velvet worm reaches 22 cm.

  1. Exhibit A

    Velvet worms

    Velvet worms (Onychophora) are soft, many-legged forest invertebrates.

  2. Exhibit B

    Slime attack

    They trap prey by squirting a sticky slime from glands near the head.

  3. Exhibit C

    Two families

    The two living families are Peripatidae and Peripatopsidae.

  4. Exhibit D

    Largest species

    The largest known species, Mongeperipatus solorzanoi, reaches about 22 cm.

  5. Exhibit E

    Jaws, not a radula

    Velvet worms bite with jaws; a radula belongs to mollusks.

Questions people ask about Totally Radula!

What group do velvet worms belong to?

They're not true worms.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Velvet worms) · Wikipedia: Onychophora

How do velvet worms catch prey?

The slime hardens on the prey.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Slime attack) · Wikipedia: Onychophora

How many living families are there?

Peripatidae and Peripatopsidae.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Two families) · Wikipedia: Onychophora

How long is the largest known velvet worm?

It's from Costa Rica.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Largest species) · Wikipedia: Onychophora

What do velvet worms bite with?

A radula is a mollusk feature.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Jaws, not a radula) · Wikipedia: Onychophora

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What group do velvet worms belong to?

    1. Onychophora
    2. Annelida
    3. Mollusca
    4. Nematoda
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Onychophora They're not true worms. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Velvet worms) · Wikipedia: Onychophora

  2. How do velvet worms catch prey?

    1. By squirting sticky slime
    2. With venomous stings
    3. By webs
    4. By ambush in water
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. By squirting sticky slime The slime hardens on the prey. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Slime attack) · Wikipedia: Onychophora

  3. How many living families are there?

    1. Two
    2. Ten
    3. One
    4. Fifty
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Two Peripatidae and Peripatopsidae. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Two families) · Wikipedia: Onychophora

  4. How long is the largest known velvet worm?

    1. About 22 cm
    2. About 2 m
    3. About 1 cm
    4. About 60 cm
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. About 22 cm It's from Costa Rica. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Largest species) · Wikipedia: Onychophora

  5. What do velvet worms bite with?

    1. Jaws
    2. A radula
    3. A beak
    4. Teeth on the tail
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Jaws A radula is a mollusk feature. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Jaws, not a radula) · Wikipedia: Onychophora

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Totally Radula!." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-292, last updated Aug 8, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/totally-radula/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/totally-radula/ · Last updated

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