A stunning new discovery in the Swartberg Mountains of South Africa has made headlines worldwide.

In March 2022, Rohan Barnard, a third-year BSc student from Stellenbosch University, uncovered a previously unknown species of velvet worm while exploring the Karoo region. This remarkable find not only marks the first velvet worm discovered in this area but also sheds light on the ancient climate and biodiversity of the region. This discovery, which has been described in the journal Ecology and Evolution, is a testament to the ongoing work in biodiversity conservation and citizen science.

'I Had a Basic Knowledge of the Cape Velvet Worms'

Rohan Barnard’s discovery of the slate-black velvet worm—now named Peripatopsis barnardi in honor of his efforts—was no accident. Having gained an interest in ants and small creatures in his earlier years, Rohan had assisted his older brother on a project to collect velvet worms under the guidance of Prof. Savel Daniels, a zoology lecturer at Stellenbosch University. The duo first discovered velvet worms on Table Mountain in 2019, and Rohan’s growing knowledge of these fascinating creatures would eventually lead him to find this new species during his exploration of the Swartberg Mountains.

Rohan, who was searching for ants and reptiles, overturned rocks in an area near a small river and discovered the worm hidden beneath the sand and leaf litter. Realizing the rarity of these creatures, Rohan took a photo and uploaded it to the iNaturalist biodiversity observation app, unknowingly capturing the attention of researchers. What began as a personal interest and a casual outing turned into an unprecedented scientific find.

Velvet Worms: A Living Fossil Dating Back Over 500 Million Years

The velvet worm’s remarkable evolutionary lineage spans more than 500 million years, making it one of the oldest surviving species on Earth. These creatures, known for their soft bodies and non-jointed legs, are often referred to as living fossils because of their unchanged form since the Cambrian period. Despite their ancient ancestry, velvet worms have survived through shifting climates and changing ecosystems, adapting in ways that make them both evolutionarily significant and fascinating to scientists today.

The species discovered by Rohan, Peripatopsis barnardi, is part of a larger group of velvet worms found in South Africa’s Cape Fold Mountains. These areas are known for harboring prehistoric Afro-temperate forests, and the finding suggests that these ancient ecosystems have been highly resilient over time, surviving through climatic shifts and geological events.

'The Origin of These Forest Patches Can Be Traced to the Early Miocene'

In a more detailed examination of the region’s historical climate, Prof. Savel Daniels explained that the forest patches where velvet worms thrive have roots dating back to the early Miocene period, roughly 23 to 15 million years ago. At that time, the region was much more temperate and sub-tropical, creating ideal conditions for velvet worms to thrive. However, as climatic changes occurred during the late Miocene, with a decrease in rainfall and the advent of the proto Benguela current along the West Coast, the landscape began to shift.

These changes resulted in a mosaic of habitats, where some species, such as velvet worms, became isolated and evolved into distinct species due to their environmental conditions. This evolution process, driven by the geotectonic uplifting events and climate change, underscores the adaptability and survival mechanisms that have kept these creatures alive over millions of years. The Cape Fold Mountains—a result of these ancient geologic and climatic forces—continue to serve as a biodiversity hotspot, hosting a range of unique species found nowhere else on Earth.

Citizen Science and the Discovery of New Species

The growing role of citizen science in biodiversity research has become increasingly evident with discoveries like Rohan’s. Prof. Daniels emphasizes the importance of citizen scientists, stating, “It is thanks to citizen science data that we were able to identify the new species. In the Cape Fold Mountains, we now know that every mountain peak has an endemic species. This suggests that in unsampled areas, there are likely to be additional novel diversity, waiting to be found.”

Rohan’s contribution is a prime example of how ordinary individuals, with the right interest and tools, can contribute to scientific discovery. Platforms like iNaturalist allow amateurs to document and share observations, creating a crowdsourced repository of biodiversity data. These platforms have played a vital role in helping experts like Prof. Daniels identify previously unknown species, all while promoting conservation efforts and environmental awareness.