<![CDATA[I recently discovered this incredible creature while on a night walk in the NZ bush.]]>I recently discovered this incredible creature while on a night walk in the NZ bush. Known as a 'Velvet Worm', this adorable invertebrate is actually an active predator which immobilises its prey with organic glue fired from turrets on its head!

Basically unchanged in about 400 million years, they are so wonderful that of course they get more than a few mentions in my upcoming book 'The World Beneath Our Feet' (coming later this year).

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]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/4ffcec9b-8b13-4f35-8788-0f087cbc6430/i-recently-discovered-this-incredible-creature-while-on-a-night-walk-in-the-nz-bush.RSS for NodeFri, 17 Apr 2026 02:49:36 GMTTue, 07 Apr 2026 08:21:14 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to I recently discovered this incredible creature while on a night walk in the NZ bush. on Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:46:33 GMT]]>@frankashwood Cool predator and all but I just follow them for the fashion tips. That is one snappy dresser.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/earthtoneone/statuses/116366324132038049https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/earthtoneone/statuses/116366324132038049Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:46:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I recently discovered this incredible creature while on a night walk in the NZ bush. on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 23:27:52 GMT]]>@frankashwood

Peripatus.

I haven't seen one for fifty years, and that was in the back of what was nice old bush but which is now Peter Dunne's English Country Garden back yard.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.online/users/zl2tod/statuses/116366014709731550https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.online/users/zl2tod/statuses/116366014709731550Tue, 07 Apr 2026 23:27:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I recently discovered this incredible creature while on a night walk in the NZ bush. on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:30:14 GMT]]>@nev it is!!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://flipping.rocks/users/frankashwood/statuses/116364844346859811https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://flipping.rocks/users/frankashwood/statuses/116364844346859811Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:30:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I recently discovered this incredible creature while on a night walk in the NZ bush. on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:57:13 GMT]]>@frankashwood oh my god is THAT its eye

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://flipping.rocks/users/nev/statuses/116364242664383428https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://flipping.rocks/users/nev/statuses/116364242664383428Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:57:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I recently discovered this incredible creature while on a night walk in the NZ bush. on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:41:18 GMT]]>@frankashwood And a Cambrian-era member of the group (one with spines on the back) confused the hell out paleontologists for years -- the appropriately named Hallucigenia!

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]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://spacey.space/users/pauldrye/statuses/116363708266562657https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://spacey.space/users/pauldrye/statuses/116363708266562657Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:41:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I recently discovered this incredible creature while on a night walk in the NZ bush. on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:38:28 GMT]]>@frankashwood
New life goal: evolve head turrets capable of firing organic glue.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mas.to/users/drewtowler/statuses/116363697119702942https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mas.to/users/drewtowler/statuses/116363697119702942Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:38:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I recently discovered this incredible creature while on a night walk in the NZ bush. on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:34:57 GMT]]>@frankashwood Follow you so I can get that book when out. 🤗

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://expressional.social/users/disisdeguey/statuses/116362739556356262https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://expressional.social/users/disisdeguey/statuses/116362739556356262Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:34:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I recently discovered this incredible creature while on a night walk in the NZ bush. on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:40:19 GMT]]>@frankashwood
Peripetus!! Love them and their deadend ancient branch of evolution! Most splendid things!!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.nz/users/RobynNuthall/statuses/116362524706612526https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.nz/users/RobynNuthall/statuses/116362524706612526Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:40:19 GMT