Page "Onychophora" Paragraph 81

The primary threat comes from destruction and fragmentation of velvet worm habitat due to industrialisation, draining of wetlands and " slash and burn " for agriculture.

Many species also have naturally low population densities and closely restricted geographic ranges ; as a result, relatively small localised disturbances of important ecosystems can lead to the extinction of entire populations or species.

Collection of specimens for universities or research institutes also plays a role on a local scale.