Page "Onychophora" Paragraph 0

The velvet worms ( Onychophora — literally " claw bearers ", also known as Protracheata ) are a minor ecdysozoan phylum.

These obscurely segmented organisms have tiny eyes, antennae, multiple pairs of legs and slime glands.

They have variously been compared to worms with legs, caterpillars and slugs.

Most common in tropical regions of the Southern Hemisphere, they prey on smaller animals such as insects, which they catch by squirting an adhesive slime.

In modern zoology, they are particularly renowned for their curious mating behaviour and for bearing live young.

They are becoming increasingly popular as pets due to their bizarre appearance and eating habits.