Peripatopsidae is one of the two living
velvet worm
Onychophora (from grc, ονυχής, , "claws"; and , , "to carry"), commonly known as velvet worms (due to their velvety texture and somewhat wormlike appearance) or more ambiguously as peripatus (after the first described genus, ''Peripatus' ...
families.
Description
The Peripatopsidae exhibit relatively many characteristics that are perceived as original or "primitive" with respect to the
Peripatidae
Peripatidae is a family of velvet worms. The oldest putative representatives of the family herald from Burmese amber dated to the mid-Cretaceous, around 100 Ma, with representatives from Dominican and Baltic amber attesting to a broader distribu ...
. The number of leg pairs in this family range from as few as 13 (in ''
Ooperipatellus nanus''
) to as many as 29 (in ''
Paraperipatus papuensis'').
Behind or between the last leg pair is the genital opening (gonopore).
Both oviparous and ovoviviparous, as well as genuinely viviparous, species exist, although the Peripatopsidae essentially lack a placenta.
Distribution
The distribution of the Peripatopsidae is circumaustral; in particular, they inhabit
Australasia
Australasia is a region that comprises Australia, New Zealand and some neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term is used in a number of different contexts, including geopolitically, physiogeographically, philologically, and ecolo ...
,
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring count ...
and
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the eas ...
.
Genera
The family contains the following genera:
* ''
Acanthokara
''Acanthokara'' is a monospecific genus of ovoviviparous velvet worm
Onychophora (from grc, ονυχής, , "claws"; and , , "to carry"), commonly known as velvet worms (due to their velvety texture and somewhat wormlike appearance) or more ...
''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Aethrikos''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Aktinothele
''Aktinothele'' is a monospecific genus of oviparous velvet worm
Onychophora (from grc, ονυχής, , "claws"; and , , "to carry"), commonly known as velvet worms (due to their velvety texture and somewhat wormlike appearance) or more ambi ...
''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Anoplokaros''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Austroperipatus''
Baehr, 1977
* ''
Baeothele
''Baeothele'' is a monospecific genus of ovoviviparous velvet worm
Onychophora (from grc, ονυχής, , "claws"; and , , "to carry"), commonly known as velvet worms (due to their velvety texture and somewhat wormlike appearance) or more am ...
''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Centrorumis''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Cephalofovea''
Ruhberg et al., 1988
* ''
Critolaus
Critolaus (; el, Κριτόλαος ''Kritolaos''; c. 200 – c. 118 BC) of Phaselis was a Greek philosopher of the Peripatetic school. He was one of three philosophers sent to Rome in 155 BC (the other two being Carneades and Diogenes of Baby ...
''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Dactylothele
''Dactylothele'' is a monospecific genus of velvet worm
Onychophora (from grc, ονυχής, , "claws"; and , , "to carry"), commonly known as velvet worms (due to their velvety texture and somewhat wormlike appearance) or more ambiguously a ...
''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Diemenipatus''
Oliveira, Ruhberg, Rowell & Mayer, 2018
* ''
Dystactotylos''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Euperipatoides''
Ruhberg, 1985
* ''
Florelliceps
''Florelliceps'' is a monospecific genus of ovoviviparous velvet worm
Onychophora (from grc, ονυχής, , "claws"; and , , "to carry"), commonly known as velvet worms (due to their velvety texture and somewhat wormlike appearance) or more ...
''
Tait & Norman, 2001
* ''
Hylonomoipos''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Konothele''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Kumbadjena''
Reid, 2002
* ''
Lathropatus''
Reid, 2000
* ''
Leucopatus''
(Ruhberg, Mesibov, Briscoe & Tait, 1991)
* ''
Leuropezos
''Leuropezos'' is a monospecific genus of velvet worm
Onychophora (from grc, ονυχής, , "claws"; and , , "to carry"), commonly known as velvet worms (due to their velvety texture and somewhat wormlike appearance) or more ambiguously as ...
''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Mantonipatus''
Ruhberg, 1985
* ''
Metaperipatus''
Clark, 1913
* ''
Minyplanetes
''Minyplanetes'' is a monospecific genus of velvet worm
Onychophora (from grc, ονυχής, , "claws"; and , , "to carry"), commonly known as velvet worms (due to their velvety texture and somewhat wormlike appearance) or more ambiguously a ...
''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Nodocapitus
''Nodocapitus'' is a genus of velvet worms in the family Peripatopsidae. All species in this genus have 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. '' N. formosus'' is found in Queensland, Australia, '' N. inornatus'' is found in New South Wales
)
, ni ...
''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Occiperipatoides
''Occiperipatoides'' is a monospecific genus of velvet worm containing the single species ''Occiperipatoides gilesii''. This genus is ovoviviparous and found in Western Australia. The genus is part of the ancient phylum Onychophora that contain ...
''
Ruhberg, 1985
* ''
Ooperipatellus
''Ooperipatellus'' is a genus of Australian and New Zealand velvet worms in the Peripatopsidae family. Species in this genus are oviparous. Most species in this genus have 14 pairs of legs, but '' O. nanus'' has only 13 pairs, which is the minimu ...
''
Ruhberg, 1985
* ''
Ooperipatus
''Ooperipatus'' is a genus of Australian velvet worms in the Peripatopsidae family. All species in this genus are oviparous and have 15 pairs of oncopods (legs).
Species
The genus contains the following species:
* '' Ooperipatus birrgus'' R ...
''
Dendy, 1900
* ''
Opisthopatus
''Opisthopatus'' is a genus of South African velvet worms in the family Peripatopsidae. The number of legs in this genus range from 16 pairs (e.g., in '' O. cinctipes'') to 18 pairs (in '' O. roseus''). The feet in this genus feature three dista ...
''
Purcell, 1899
* ''
Paraperipatus''
Ruhberg, 1985
* ''
Paropisthopatus
''Paropisthopatus'' is a monospecific genus of velvet worm containing the single species ''Paropisthopatus umbrinus''. Females of this species range from 20 mm to 70 mm in length. The type locality is in central Chile. Velvet worms in this genus ...
''
Ruhberg, 1985
* ''
Peripatoides''
Pocock, 1894
* ''
Peripatopsis''
Pocock, 1894
* ''
Phallocephale''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Planipapillus''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Regimitra
''Regimitra'' is a monospecific genus of velvet worm containing the single species ''Regimitra quadricaula''. The males of this species have 15 pairs of legs, with the last pair fully developed; females have either 15 leg pairs, with the last pai ...
''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Ruhbergia''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Sphenoparme
''Sphenoparme'' is a monospecific genus of velvet worm containing the single species ''Sphenoparme hobwensis''. This species has 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. The type locality of this species is Lamington National Park
The Lamington Nation ...
''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Tasmanipatus''
Ruhberg et al. 1991
* ''
Tetrameraden''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Vescerro
''Vescerro'' is a monospecific genus of ovoviviparous velvet worm
Onychophora (from grc, ονυχής, , "claws"; and , , "to carry"), commonly known as velvet worms (due to their velvety texture and somewhat wormlike appearance) or more amb ...
''
Reid, 1996
* ''
Wambalana''
Reid, 1996
References
*
*
Onychophoran families
Taxa named by Eugène Louis Bouvier
{{Onychophora-stub