| Euperipatoides rowelli | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Onychophora |
| Class: | Udeonychophora |
| Order: | Euonychophora |
| Family: | Peripatopsidae |
| Genus: | Euperipatoides |
| Species: | E. rowelli |
| Binomial name | |
| Euperipatoides rowelli Reid, 1996 | |
Euperipatoides rowelli is an ovoviviparous species of velvet worm of the Peripatopsidae family. It is found in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. [1] [2]
As all species in the genus Euperipatoides, E. rowelli has a dark grayish-blue color. This species has 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. [3] Adult specimens measure about 3 to 5 cm in length, with females being larger than males. This species is characterized by two distinct rows of bristles on the antennal rings 4, 6, 9 and 12, while the remaining species of the genus have two distinct rows only on the two or four distal antennal rings. [4]
Euperipatoides rowelli occurs in humid, temperate forests of southeastern Australia. Its main habitat are decaying logs on the forest floor, where it lives in crevices and feeds on small invertebrates, such as termites and crickets. [5] [6]
Specimens are rarely found alone, usually forming groups of a few individuals containing females, males, and juveniles. Laboratory observations on behavior concluded that these groups present some sort of hierarchy with dominant females. [6]
New logs are usually colonized by wandering males. The pheromones emitted by the first male to reach a log attract additional males, as well as females. It is assumed that males are attracted by other males because their high density increases the attraction of females. [7]
During reproduction, the male places its spermatophore on the female's skin. With the aid of the female blood cells, the body wall is breached and the sperm enters the female body cavity, then swims to the female genital tract. Females have two uteri and each one can have embryos at different developmental stages, up to six months apart, and from different males. [8] Males mature in about a year, while females can take up to three years. [9]
Due to its abundance in its native habitat, E. rowelli is becoming a model organism in the study of behavior and ecology, and especially of gene expression and evolution, leading to a better understanding on the evolution of animals and especially arthropods, to which velvet worms are closely related. [10] [11] [12]
Onychophora, commonly known as velvet worms or more ambiguously as peripatus, is a phylum of elongate, soft-bodied, many-legged panarthropods. In appearance they have variously been compared to worms with legs, caterpillars, and slugs. They prey upon other invertebrates, which they catch by ejecting an adhesive slime. Approximately 200 species of velvet worms have been described, although the true number of species is likely greater. The two extant families of velvet worms are Peripatidae and Peripatopsidae. They show a peculiar distribution, with the peripatids being predominantly equatorial and tropical, while the peripatopsids are all found south of the equator. It is the only phylum within Animalia that is wholly endemic to terrestrial environments, at least among extant members. Velvet worms are generally considered close relatives of the Arthropoda and Tardigrada, with which they form the proposed taxon Panarthropoda. This makes them of palaeontological interest, as they can help reconstruct the ancestral arthropod. In modern zoology they are particularly renowned for their curious mating behaviours and the bearing of live young in some species.
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 Australian Capital Territory.
Euperipatoides kanangrensis is a species of velvet worm of the Peripatopsidae family, described in 1996 from specimens collected in Kanangra-Boyd National Park, New South Wales. This species has 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. It is endemic to Australia. The embryonic development of Euperipatoideskanangrensis has been described. This species is viviparous. This species is used as model organism for the last common ancestor of the Panarthropoda. It resembles fossil Cambrian lobopodians.
Aktinothele is a monospecific genus of oviparous velvet worm, containing the single species Aktinothele eucharis. This species has 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. The type locality of this species is Finch Hatton Gorge, Queensland, Australia.
Baeothele is a monospecific genus of ovoviviparous velvet worm containing the single species Baeothele saukros. This species has 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. The type locality of this species is Wollemi National Park, New South Wales, Australia.
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, Australia.
Leuropezos is a monospecific genus of velvet worm containing the single species Leuropezos eungellensis. This species has 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. The type locality of this species is Eungella National Park, Queensland, Australia.
Occiperipatoides is a monospecific genus of velvet worm containing the single species Occiperipatoides gilesii. This genus is ovoviviparous and found in Western Australia. The genus is part of the ancient phylum Onychophora that contains soft-bodied, many-legged relatives of arthropods known commonly as velvet worms.
Phallocephale is a monospecific genus of ovoviviparous velvet worm containing the single species Phallocephale tallagandensis. Males are distinguished by the presence of an eversible knoblike structure on the head, whereas females instead have a depression on their head. The type locality of this species is Tallaganda National Park, New South Wales, Australia.
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, and N. barryi is found in both of these states. In each species, the males are distinguished by enlarged papillae on the head, between the antennae.
Opisthopatus cinctipes is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species has 16 pairs of legs, all with claws and all used for walking. Females range from 7 mm to 50 mm in length, whereas males range from 6 mm to 36 mm. The type locality is in South Africa.
Cephalofovea tomahmontis is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species is ovoviviparous, has 15 pairs of oncopods (legs), and lives in rotting logs and leaf litter. The type locality is Mount Tomah, New South Wales, Australia, after which this species is named. Like all members of the genus Cephalofovea, both sexes of C. tomahmontis have a furrow on the head, between the antennae, which the male everts to carry his spermatophore to the female.
Hylonomoipos brookensis is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species has 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. It is found in Queensland, Australia.
Nodocapitus barryi is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. This species has 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. It is found in southeastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales, Australia. The males are distinguished by enlarged papillae on the head, between the antennae.
Nodocapitus formosus is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. The type locality of this species is Mount Elliot, Queensland, Australia. This species has 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. The males are distinguished by enlarged papillae on the head, between the antennae.
Nodocapitus inornatus is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. The type locality of this species is Gibralter Range National Park, New South Wales, Australia. This species has 15 pairs of legs in both sexes. The males are distinguished by enlarged papillae on the head, between the antennae.
Ruhbergia bifalcata is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. The type locality is in New South Wales, Australia.
Ruhbergia brevicorna is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. The type locality is in New South Wales, Australia.
Ruhbergia rostroides is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. The type locality is in New South Wales, Australia.
Planipapillus mundus is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. It is found in New South Wales, Australia.