Coyote Peterson is in Costa Rica. Mark and Mario were alone in the forest without Coyote Peterson this time. Because Coyote Peterson was in a cabin working. The cabin that he was working in was right next to where Mark and Mario were. Mark and Mario are looking for a Velvet Worm. A Velvet Worm is very rare because it only comes out at night. It is a nocturnal creature.
Mark found a Velvet Worm! It was a big one too. They were so happy! They couldn't wait to show Coyote Peterson. When they got to the cabin, they showed Coyote Peterson the Velvet Worm. He was even more excited than they were because it was so rare to find.
Coyote Peterson said the Velvet Worm feels like a gummy worm. He also said the Velvet Worm could shed its skin just like a snake. And when they shed their skin, it walks out. And their skin gets brighter and softer. Coyote Peterson said the Velvet Worm looks cute, but really it's a voracious predator. He also said it is not aggressive in any way whatsoever to humans.
He said the Velvet Worm gets its name because it feels just like velvet. He also said there are only two hundred worldwide of Velvet Worms.
Coyote Peterson said the way that the Velvet Worm hunts is it moves slowly through the rainforest floor and looking for dead logs and leaves. They will use the two front sensory organs to tap on their prey, and as soon as they sense something to eat, they have two glands on the side of their face that shoots out a sticky slime. And the Velvet Worm is very strong.
Coyote Peterson said the Velvet Worm has one tooth, and its a like a razor blade.
The phylum is different than the worm phylum or the slug phylum but the phylum is close together in the categories of animals.
Here is a picture of an Onychophora.
