- Source: Peripatopsis
Peripatopsis is a genus of velvet worms in the Peripatopsidae family. These velvet worms are found in the KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. This genus was proposed by the British zoologist Reginald I. Pocock in 1894 with Peripatopsis capensis designated as the type species.
Description
The number of legs in this genus ranges from as few as 16 pairs (e.g., in P. clavigera) to as many as 25 pairs (in P. moseleyi) and varies within species when the number is greater than 18 pairs. Velvet worms in this genus feature a last pair of legs (the genital pair) that is rudimentary or reduced in size, mainly in males. The feet in this genus feature three distal papillae: two anterior and one posterior. The gonopore in the male is cross-shaped but in the female takes the form of a longitudinal slit.
Reproduction
This genus exhibits matrotrophic viviparity, that is, mothers in this genus retain eggs in their uteri and supply nourishment to their embryos, but without any placenta. Eggs are fertilized through dermal insemination. Males place spermatophores on the skin of females, which allows the entry of sperm at the point of contact. Embryonic development in this genus takes 12 to 13 months, during which the mother contains up to 20 embryos, all at about the same stage of development. The young are born alive tail first, one or two at a time, all within a short period of time. The young resemble adults in form but are smaller.
Species
The genus Peripatopsis consists of the following species:
Peripatopsis aereus Daniels & Nieto Lawrence, 2024
Peripatopsis alba Lawrence, 1931 — white cave velvet worm
Peripatopsis balfouri (Sedgwick, 1885)
Peripatopsis birgeri Ruhberg & Daniels, 2013
Peripatopsis bolandi Daniels et al., 2013
Peripatopsis capensis (Grube, 1866)
Peripatopsis cederbergiensis Daniels et al., 2013
Peripatopsis clavigera Purcell, 1899 — Knysna velvet worm
Peripatopsis collarium Barnes & Daniels, 2024
Peripatopsis edenensis Barnes et al., 2020
Peripatopsis ferox Barnes et al., 2020
Peripatopsis hamerae Ruhberg & Daniels, 2013
Peripatopsis intermedia Hutchinson, 1928
Peripatopsis janni Ruhberg & Daniels, 2013
Peripatopsis lawrencei McDonald et al., 2012
Peripatopsis leonina Purcell, 1899 — Lion's Hill velvet worm
Peripatopsis margaritarius Barnes & Daniels, 2024
Peripatopsis mellaria Barnes et al., 2020
Peripatopsis mira Barnes et al., 2020
Peripatopsis moseleyi (Wood-Mason, 1879)
Peripatopsis orientalis Barnes & Daniels, 2024
Peripatopsis overbergiensis McDonald et al., 2012 — Overberg velvet worm
Peripatopsis polychroma Grobler et al., 2023
Peripatopsis purpureus Daniels et al., 2013
Peripatopsis sedgwicki Purcell, 1899 — Tsitsikamma velvet worm
Peripatopsis storchi Ruhberg & Daniels, 2013
Peripatopsis tulbaghensis Barnes et al., 2020