Epiperipatus is the most diverse genus of neotropical velvet worms in the family Peripatidae. Species in this genus are found in Central and South America. Velvet worms in this genus can have as few as 23 pairs of legs or as many as 39 leg pairs. This genus is viviparous, with mothers supplying nourishment to their embryos through a placenta.
Epiperipatus imthurni is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatidae. This species ranges from light orange or yellowish brown to a dark brown on its dorsal surface; the ventral surface is a lighter orangeish shade of the same color. The type locality is in Guyana. No males have been recorded from this species. Females can reach a large size, up to 2.25 g in weight, and range from 25 mm up to 96 mm in length. They have 29 to 32 pairs of legs, usually 30 or 31. Females from Trinidad were shown to reproduce via parthenogenesis; the only velvet worm known to do so.
Epiperipatus barbadensis is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family, first described based on specimens from Barbados. It is one of the velvet worms that most often is kept in captivity, and was the first member of the Peripatidae family to be successfully maintained by hobbyist invertebrate keepers; it is easier to keep than the majority of other velvet worm species that have been tried, but still has specialized requirements that resemble those necessary for keeping poison dart frogs. E. barbadensis is social, nocturnal and viviparous, can live for several years, and feeds on small invertebrates that are caught by ejecting an adhesive slime from glands on their head.
Epiperipatus acacioi is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family. This species is dark purple with a bilaterally symmetric pattern on its dorsal surface and ranges from 13 mm to 47 mm in length. Males of this species have 24 to 27 pairs of legs, usually 25 or 26; females have 26 to 30, usually 27 or 28. The type locality is in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Epiperipatus adenocryptus is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family. This species is brown with a series of light brown arcs on each side forming a series of circles down its dorsal surface. Males of this species have 26 or 27 pairs of legs, usually 27; females have 28 to 30, usually 29. The type locality is in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Epiperipatus biolleyi is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family. This species is red, without any pattern, on its dorsal surface. Females of this species have 28 to 32 pairs of legs; males have 25 to 30. Females range from 18 mm to 75 mm in length, with a mean length of 52 mm, whereas males range from 18 mm to 55 mm, with a mean length of 38 mm. The type locality is in Costa Rica.
Epiperipatus brasiliensis is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family. Males of this species have 29 pairs of legs; females have 31 or 33. This species ranges from 37 mm to 80 mm in length. The type locality is in Pará, Brazil. Epiperipatus vagans from Barro Colorado Island (Panama) was originally described as subspecies of Epiperipatus brasiliensis, but is now treated as a full species.
Epiperipatus broadwayi is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family. This species is dark brown with light brown triangles down its back. This species has 29 to 34 pairs of legs. The type locality is in Tobago.
Epiperipatus cratensis is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatidae. This species varies from purple to white. Females of this species have 33 or 34 pairs of legs; males have 30 to 33 pairs. The type locality is in Ceará, Brazil.
Epiperipatus simoni is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family. This species is dark brown without any pattern on its dorsal surface. Females of this species range from 40 mm to 68 mm in length and have 28 to 32 pairs of legs. The type locality is in Venezuela.
Epiperipatus torrealbai is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatidae. This species is dark reddish brown without any pattern on its dorsal surface. The female of this species has 31 pairs of legs. The type locality is in Venezuela.
Epiperipatus trinidadensis is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family. Males of this species have 27 to 30 pairs of legs, usually 28; females have 28 to 31, usually 30. The type locality is in Trinidad.
Epiperipatus vagans is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family. The male of this species has 29 or 30 pairs of legs; females have 32 or 33. The type locality is in Panama.
Epiperipatus paurognostus is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family. This species is brown with a series of light brown arcs on each side forming circles down its back. Males of this species have 26 or 27 pairs of legs, usually 27; females have 27 to 29, usually 29. The type locality is in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Epiperipatus edwardsii is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatidae. Females of this species have 29 to 34 pairs of legs; males have 28 to 30. Females range from 23 mm to 56 mm in length, whereas males range from 25 mm to 30 mm. The type locality is in French Guiana.
Epiperipatus evansi is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family. This species is a purplish dark brown with a series of bright triangles on each side forming a series of diamonds down its back. Females of this species have 28 pairs of legs and range from 32 mm to 58 mm in length. The type locality is in Guyana.
Epiperipatus hilkae is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family. This species is dark brown with a series of reddish brown hexagons down its back. Males of this species have 25 to 27 pairs of legs; females have 28 to 29. The type locality is in Costa Rica.
Epiperipatus isthmicola is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family. This species is a dark brown, almost black, without any pattern on its dorsal surface. Females of this species have 29 to 32 pairs of legs; males have 26 or 27. Females range from 20 mm to 73 mm in length, whereas males range from 20 mm to 48 mm. The type locality is in Costa Rica.
Epiperipatus lewisi is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family. This species varies from grey to dark reddish brown on its dorsal surface and has 34 to 36 pairs of legs. The type locality is in Jamaica.
Epiperipatus machadoi is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family. This species is dark brown with a series of light brown arcs on each side forming circles down its back and ranges from 20 mm to 66 mm in length. Males of this species have 27 to 29 pairs of legs, usually 28; females have 28 to 31, usually 31. The type locality is in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
