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 ''Ooperipatellus nanus'' is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the South Island. Taxonomy This species was first described by Hilke Ruhberg in 1985. Description ''O. ...

'') to as many as 29 (in ''

Paraperipatus papuensis ''Paraperipatus papuensis'' is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The ...

''). 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 ecologica ...

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 countri ...

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 east a ...

Genera

The family contains the following genera: * '' Acanthokara''

Reid Reid is a surname of Scottish origin. It means "red". People with the surname * Alan Reid (disambiguation) * Alex Reid (disambiguation), includes Alexander Reid * Amanda Reid, Australian Paralympic athlete * Amanda Reid (taxonomist), Australia ...

, 1996 * '' Aethrikos'' Reid, 1996 * '' Aktinothele'' Reid, 1996 * ''

Anoplokaros ''Anoplokaros'' 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 mor ...

'' Reid, 1996 * '' Austroperipatus'' Baehr, 1977 * '' Baeothele'' Reid, 1996 * ''

Centrorumis ''Centrorumis'' is a monospecific genus of velvet worm containing the single species ''Centrorumis trigona''. This species has 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. It is found in New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in ...

'' 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 Babylon) ...

'' Reid, 1996 * '' Dactylothele'' Reid, 1996 * '' Diemenipatus'' Oliveira, Ruhberg, Rowell & Mayer, 2018 * ''

Dystactotylos ''Dystactotylos'' is a monospecific genus of velvet worm containing the single species ''Dystactotylos aletes''. This species has 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. The type locality of this species is Massey Range, Queensland, Australia ) , n ...

'' Reid, 1996 * ''

Euperipatoides ''Euperipatoides'' is a genus of ovoviviparous velvet worms in the family Peripatopsidae. All species in this genus have 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. All species are found in New South Wales, Australia. '' E. rowelli'' is also found in the Au ...

'' Ruhberg, 1985 * '' Florelliceps'' Tait & Norman, 2001 * ''

Hylonomoipos ''Hylonomoipos'' is a genus of velvet worms in the family Peripatopsidae. All species in this genus have 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. They are found in southeastern Queensland, Australia ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queens ...

'' Reid, 1996 * ''

Konothele ''Konothele'' is a monospecific genus of velvet worm containing the single species ''Konothele kallimos''. This species has 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. The type locality of this species is Mount Hemmant, Queensland, Australia ) , nickna ...

'' Reid, 1996 * ''

Kumbadjena ''Kumbadjena'' is a genus of velvet worms in the family Peripatopsidae. All species in this genus are ovoviviparous, all have 15 pairs of oncopods (legs), and all are found in the southwest of Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abb ...

'' Reid, 2002 * '' Lathropatus'' Reid, 2000 * ''

Leucopatus ''Leucopatus'' is a genus of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae, containing a single species, the blind velvet worm (''Leucopatus anophthalmus''). It is found in northeast Tasmania, Australia, and is ovoviviparous. Taxonomy The generic n ...

'' (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'' 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'' Ruhberg, 1985 * ''

Ooperipatellus ''Ooperipatellus'' is a genus of Australian and New Zealand Onychophora, velvet worms in the Peripatopsidae family. Species in this genus are Oviparity, oviparous. Most species in this genus have 14 pairs of legs, but ''Ooperipatellus nanus, O. n ...

'' Ruhberg, 1985 * '' Ooperipatus'' Dendy, 1900 * '' Opisthopatus'' Purcell, 1899 * '' Paraperipatus'' Ruhberg, 1985 * '' Paropisthopatus'' Ruhberg, 1985 * '' Peripatoides'' Pocock, 1894 * '' Peripatopsis'' Pocock, 1894 * '' Phallocephale'' Reid, 1996 * '' Planipapillus'' Reid, 1996 * '' Regimitra'' Reid, 1996 * ''

Ruhbergia ''Ruhbergia'' is a genus of velvet worms in the family Peripatopsidae. All species in this genus are ovoviviparous (with yolky ova) and have 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. They are found in New South Wales, Australia Australia, offic ...

'' Reid, 1996 * '' Sphenoparme'' Reid, 1996 * '' Tasmanipatus'' Ruhberg et al. 1991 * '' Tetrameraden'' Reid, 1996 * '' Vescerro'' Reid, 1996 * '' Wambalana'' Reid, 1996

References

* * Onychophoran families Taxa named by Eugène Louis Bouvier {{Onychophora-stub