Kōrero: Peripatus

Shedding skin

Shedding skin

As they grow, peripatus shed their thin outer skin every few weeks. The new skin has a liquid film, making it easier to shed the old skin, which the peripatus eats, to recycle the nutrients. The peripatus can digest solid matter (in the form of its own skin) as well as its usual liquid diet.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Private collection
Photograph by Dianne Gleeson

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Te tuhi tohutoro mō tēnei whārangi:

Paddy Ryan, 'Peripatus - Reproduction', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/photograph/13268/shedding-skin (accessed 29 March 2024)

He kōrero nā Paddy Ryan, i tāngia i te 24 Sep 2007