Ecuador - July 01, 2024

In a significant scientific discovery, researchers have unveiled the first new species of Ecuadorian velvet worm in over a century. Named Oroperipatus tiputini, or the Tiputini velvet worm, this remarkable find occurred in the lush lowland forests of Ecuador's northern Amazon region.

Published in the open-access journal Zoosystematics and Evolution, the description marks a milestone in biodiversity research. Velvet worms, also known as onychophorans, are nocturnal predators equipped with sticky glands that capture their prey. The Tiputini velvet worm distinguishes itself through unique skin texture, coloration, and leg structure, thriving in the dense, canopy-covered terra firma forests where it hunts among leaf litter and tree roots.

Led by Jorge Montalvo from the USFQ Museum of Zoology, the research team named the species in honor of the Tiputini Biodiversity Station within the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, underscoring its critical role in biodiversity conservation. This velvet worm species is endemic to its discovery site, highlighting the area's ecological significance.

Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia, co-author and director of the Museum of Zoology at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, emphasised the painstaking research effort spanning decades. "The discovery and description of this new species involved meticulous morphological analysis, supported by advanced imaging technologies," Cisneros-Heredia noted.

This finding not only expands Ecuador's known velvet worm diversity to seven species but also underscores the need for continued exploration and conservation efforts in the Amazon's biodiverse regions.