Table 1.

Decay stages for the onychophoran Euperipatoides rowelli

Stage 1	Days 0–2	Onset of breakdown of cuticle and pigment granules, soapy gut, loss of slime gland endpieces
Stage 2	Days 2–8	Onset of decay of remaining internal organs, advanced breakdown of cuticle and associated effects on limbs, mouth and trunk
Stage 3	Days 8–34	Total loss of distinct internal organs, onset of decay of all external characters (except jaws, claws and eyes)
Stage 4	Days 34–109	Total loss of epidermis, eyes become less distinct or lost, onset of pigment loss, head consistently decaying
Stage 5	Days 109–220+	Onset of loss of external ‘structural’ characters, complete loss of pigment granules, initial rupturing of outer cuticle

The experimental organisms did not decay completely during the sampled interval. However, based on previous experiments with polychaete worms [2] we predict that eventually only chitinous jaws and claws would remain.