New Zealand velvet worms, also known as ngāokeoke or peripatus, are nocturnal invertebrates that live in cool, damp places such as rotting logs and leaf litter. They have soft, velvety bodies with short, stubby legs, which is where their common name comes from.
These unusual animals hunt small invertebrates at night, capturing prey by shooting jets of sticky fluid that trap them. Velvet worms are one of New Zealand’s more distinctive invertebrates and are usually found in moist habitats where they can avoid drying out.
