The first onychophorans often had long legs, spines, head shields and body plates thought to have played a defensive role. They probably hunted smaller animals for food. With time, they colonized dry land and those that may have remained in the sea became extinct. Onychophorans are found un moist, dark places like rotten logs, leaf litter and soil crevices and normally become active at night, when the danger of dessication is less. The family Peripatopsidae is found in Chile, South Africa, Australia and adjacent islands, some members are oviparous, others ovoviviparous.
Onychophorans are exceedingly rare and probably endangered in many habitats.