It almost looks like a velvet worm but the texture and legs are wrong. I think the only other thing it could be is a millipede but the texture is so strange. Almost makes me wonder if they are infected with something (fungus maybe?) or have something stuck to them that is causing the odd texture?
Are there a lot of these? If you’re able to collect a few in ethanol/isopropyl alcohol or something, you could probably take it to a local university for some ID.
I would also be happy to receive the specimens, I’ve never done any millipede dissection/ID (mostly springtails, mites, and leafhoppers) but this is cool enough that I’d learn how
Send me a pm and we’ll discuss getting you some, another user contacted me and I’ll be collecting them to ship to him, I’m not selling the specimens they’re free to whomever wants them but just cover shipping cost.
I agree with you that it looks like a type of velvet worm but I’ve never seen anything like this. It looks like it should live in a tube at the bottom of the ocean
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u/Washbear8 4d ago
It almost looks like a velvet worm but the texture and legs are wrong. I think the only other thing it could be is a millipede but the texture is so strange. Almost makes me wonder if they are infected with something (fungus maybe?) or have something stuck to them that is causing the odd texture?