Tasmania's velvet ‘worms’ are members of a primitive but successful group of animals (Order Onychophora) known from the fossil record back to Cambrian (Geological) time (around five hundred million years ago).

They have velvety, water-proof skin. Their entire bodies are covered with papillae, tiny protrusions with bristles sensitive to touch and smell. The papillae are made up of overlapping scales, which gives the velvet worm its velvety appearance. It also makes their skin water-repellent

There are several species in Tasmania and this image shows their size and colour variation. They all have cylindrical bodies with pale underside extending and range from twelve to 75 mm in length when walking. They have many (e.g., 15) pairs of stubby, non-jointed legs. They are carnivorous and hunt at night. They live in dry and wet eucalypt forest in shaded, moist areas such as stream sides, and a often found in decaying logs or deep litter.