Abstract
Even though the Onychophora represent a whole phylum, observations of their activity pattern in nature are almost non-existent. Here we report on the relationship between humidity and light and activity pattern of a new species of velvet worm, genus Epiperipatus, from four years of field observations in the South Pacific of Costa Rica. We found that most activity occurs during the driest and darkest nights of the year, in contrast with theoretical predictions.
Highlights
Onychophorans, or velvet worms, are organisms with an extraordinary biology that remain poorly understood because of their cryptic lifestyle and rarity in the most ecosystems, in the tropics (Podsiadlowski et al, 2008; Sampaio-Costa et al, 2009; Brito et al, 2010; Rota‐Stabelli et al, 2010; Lacorte et al, 2011; Morera‐Brenes, 2012; Chagas-Júnior and Sampaio‐Costa, 2014)
Onychophorans feed on small invertebrates captured with a proteinaceous adhesive net; the net is self-assembled in a fraction of a second and is expelled as a defense (Bouvier, 1905; Concha et al, 2015)
About 20 counting trips were made every month and, on average, one onychophoran was seen for every three nights of field work
Summary
Onychophorans, or velvet worms, are organisms with an extraordinary biology that remain poorly understood because of their cryptic lifestyle and rarity in the most ecosystems, in the tropics (Podsiadlowski et al, 2008; Sampaio-Costa et al, 2009; Brito et al, 2010; Rota‐Stabelli et al, 2010; Lacorte et al, 2011; Morera‐Brenes, 2012; Chagas-Júnior and Sampaio‐Costa, 2014). The phylum Onychophora has approximately 200 known species, but there are almost no observations about their foraging behavior under natural conditions. Out of hundreds of species, the foraging behavior is known only for Macroperipatus torquatus (Kennel, 1885). This predator occupies the third trophic level in the forest ecosystem and usually begins hunting just after dusk, returning to its hiding place before sunrise (Read and Hughes, 1987; Read, 1988). The animal injects digestive fluids into the prey (Read and Hughes, 1987; Morera-Brenes and Monge-Nájera, 2010).
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