Velvet worms spray slime to capture prey
Ancient velvet worms, living fossils of tropical forests, ambush prey by precisely spraying a rapidly hardening, sticky slime, showcasing an ingenious hunting and defense mechanism.
Deep in tropical forests, velvet worms, ancient invertebrates unchanged for 500 million years, ambush prey with a unique hunting strategy. They eject a powerful stream of sticky slime from specialized mouthparts, propelling it up to 40 centimeters. This adhesive rapidly hardens on contact with air, forming a web that instantly immobilizes insects and other small arthropods.
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