Worm-like creature wins New Zealand's Bug of the Year award

The New Zealand Bug of the Year is the Peripatoides novaezealandiae, an ancient worm species. This invertebrate, known as the "living fossil", has a unique appearance with rows of fleshy legs and skin that resembles a galaxy. It is part of the velvet worm family and is recognized by its Māori name, Ngokeoke. The species won the New Zealand Bug of the Year competition with almost 25,000 votes, primarily coming from people in North America, Europe, and Australia, in addition to New Zealand.