Opisthopatus
Opisthopatus is a genus of South African velvet worms in the family Peripatopsidae. Velvet worms in this genus are found in South Africa, in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mpumalanga provinces, as well as in Lesotho and Eswatini. This genus was first proposed in 1899 by the zoologist William F. Purcell to contain the newly discovered species O. cinctipes, which he designated as the type species.
Description
Color is highly variable in this genus, both among and within species. The dorsal integument ranges from blue black to slate grey or brown, and the ventral integument ranges from creamy white to brown. The number of legs in this genus range from 16 pairs to 18 pairs. Velvet worms in this genus use the last pair of legs in walking. This leg pair is fully developed, with claws and four pads on each foot. The feet in this genus feature three distal leg papillae: one anterior, one posterior, and one median. The genital opening is located between the last pair of legs. The male genitalia feature a cruciform opening and four pads; the female genitalia feature a longitudinal opening.
Reproduction
Mothers in this genus give birth to live young. In particular, 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. The young are born tail first, one or two at a time. The young resemble adults in form but are smaller.
Species
The genus contains the following species:Opisthopatus amatolensis Choonoo, 1947Opisthopatus amaxhosa Daniels et al., 2016Opisthopatus baziya Barnes & Daniels, 2022Opisthopatus camdebooi Barnes & Daniels, 2022Opisthopatus cinctipes Purcell, 1899Opisthopatus drakensbergi Daniels et al., 2016 Opisthopatus herbertorum Ruhberg & Hamer, 2005Opisthopatus highveldi Daniels et al., 2016 Opisthopatus kwazululandi Daniels et al., 2016 Opisthopatus laevis Lawrence, 1947Opisthopatus natalensis Bouvier, 1900Opisthopatus roseus Lawrence, 1947, the pink velvet wormOpisthopatus swatii Daniels et al., 2016