Peripatus


Peripatus is a genus of velvet worms in the Peripatidae family. The name "peripatus" is also used to refer to the Onychophora as a whole, although this group comprises many other genera besides Peripatus. The genus Peripatus is found in Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. This genus is viviparous, with mothers supplying nourishment to their embryos through a placenta.

Description

Velvet worms in this genus may have as few as 24 or 25 pairs of legs or as many as 36 leg pairs. Males in this genus bear crural tubercles on more than two pregenital leg pairs. The dorsal primary papillae in this genus feature an apical piece that is larger than the basal piece.

Species

The genus contains the following species:Peripatus basilensis Brues, 1935Hispaniola Peripatus bouvieri Fuhrmann, 1913 – ColombiaPeripatus brolemanni Bouvier, 1899VenezuelaPeripatus danicus Bouvier, 1900Virgin IslandsPeripatus darlingtoni Brues, 1935 – HispaniolaPeripatus dominicae Pollard, 1894 – DominicaPeripatus evelinaeBrazilPeripatus haitiensis Brues, 1913 – HispaniolaPeripatus heloisae Carvalho, 1941BrazilPeripatus juanensis Bouvier, 1900 – Puerto RicoPeripatus juliformis Guilding, 1826 – Saint Vincent Island; type speciesPeripatus lachauxensis Brues, 1935 – HispaniolaPeripatus manni Brues, 1913 – HispaniolaPeripatus ruber Fuhrmann, 1913 – Costa RicaPeripatus sedgwicki Bouvier, 1899 – VenezuelaPeripatus swainsonae Cockerell, 1893Jamaica
Peripatus antiguensis Bouvier, 1899 and Peripatus bavaysi Bouvier, 1899 are considered nomina dubia by Oliveira et al. 2012.

Former species

Mongeperipatus solorzanoi Morera-Brenes & Monge-Nájera, 2010, Solórzano's velvet wormCosta Rica