Richard Silcox

While we can try to convince you that these are not in fact plush toy centipedes, velvet worms certainly look like them. These small invertebrates are neither insects nor worms, and for a long time were considered the ‘missing link’ between them. Even with the knowledge that this is not the case, velvet worms are still remarkable creatures, and unusual in almost every way.

Think of ten animals that you know are endangered – go on, we’ll wait. Now, cross out every animal on that list that has fur, hair, feathers, or scales. Do you have many left on that list? Do you have any left at all?

What has a mouth that falls off, lives on an animal's facial hair, and is pregnant before it's even born? While it sounds like the the beginning of a terrible joke, such a creature does exist, and they're just as strange as you'd expect them to be.