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 to as many as 25 pairs and can vary within species. Velvet worms in this genus feature a last pair of legs 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, 2024Peripatopsis alba Lawrence, 1931 — white cave velvet wormPeripatopsis balfouri ; type speciesPeripatopsis barnardi Daniels & Barnes, 2025Peripatopsis birgeri Ruhberg & Daniels, 2013Peripatopsis bolandi Daniels et al., 2013Peripatopsis capensis Peripatopsis cederbergiensis Daniels et al., 2013Peripatopsis clavigera Purcell, 1899 — Knysna velvet wormPeripatopsis collarium Barnes & Daniels, 2024Peripatopsis edenensis Barnes et al., 2020Peripatopsis fernkloofi Daniels & Barnes, 2025Peripatopsis ferox Barnes et al., 2020Peripatopsis hamerae Ruhberg & Daniels, 2013Peripatopsis intermedia Hutchinson, 1928Peripatopsis janni Ruhberg & Daniels, 2013Peripatopsis jonkershoeki Daniels & Barnes, 2025Peripatopsis kogelbergi Daniels & Barnes, 2025Peripatopsis landroskoppie Daniels & Barnes, 2025Peripatopsis lawrencei McDonald et al., 2012Peripatopsis leonina Purcell, 1899 — Lion's Hill velvet wormPeripatopsis limietbergi Daniels & Barnes, 2025Peripatopsis margaritarius Barnes & Daniels, 2024Peripatopsis mellaria Barnes et al., 2020Peripatopsis mira Barnes et al., 2020Peripatopsis moseleyi Peripatopsis orientalis Barnes & Daniels, 2024Peripatopsis overbergiensis McDonald et al., 2012 — Overberg velvet wormPeripatopsis palmeri Daniels & Barnes, 2025Peripatopsis polychroma Grobler et al., 2023Peripatopsis purpureus Daniels et al., 2013Peripatopsis sedgwicki Purcell, 1899 — Tsitsikamma velvet wormPeripatopsis storchi Ruhberg & Daniels, 2013Peripatopsis tulbaghensis Barnes et al., 2020