Peripatoides novaezealandiae | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Onychophora |
Family: | Peripatopsidae |
Genus: | Peripatoides |
Species: | P. novaezealandiae |
Binomial name | |
Peripatoides novaezealandiae (Hutton, 1876) [2] |
Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. is an allozymatic (reproductively isolated) species of velvet worms in the Peripatoides novaezealandiae-complex, [3] endemic to New Zealand. Other described species include P. aurorbis, P. kawekaensis, P. morgani and P. sympatrica. [4]
As with all Onychophora, Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. has a long, worm-like body, a head, and an anal cone. [7] [8] The head has three pairs of modified limbs: the antennae, the jaws, and the oral papillae. [7] [8] Their skin is velvety in texture and the sticky slime projected from their oral papillae does not stick to it. [7] They respire via two rows of trachea on the dorsal surface, which alternate with the legs. [7]
All species in the P. novaezealandiae-complex have fifteen pairs of unjointed, hollow cone-like limbs called lobopods. [7] [3] This distinguishes them from the closely related P. suteri which has sixteen pairs of lobopods. [9] [10] Peripatoides novaezealandiae-complex has three complete spinous pads and a fourth fragmented pad on the ventral side of the legs. [11] Individuals all have three distal papillae on the feet. [11] [3]
Colour varies from brownish red to purplish black, but there is usually a thin black dorsal stripe. [7] A bulge of orange-coloured papillae near the eyes is characteristic of the P. novaezealandiae-complex. [11]
Length varies from 2.5–5 cm. [3] Males can reach a weight of up to 200 mg while adult female weight varies more widely, with some specimens of over 800 mg. [12]
Morphologically, males can usually be distinguished from females by the presence of a pair of posterior orange papillae which mark the opening of the anal glands. [3] [12] These papillae appear before maturity, so cannot be used to identify sexually mature males. [12] Males in the P. novaezealandiae-complex do not have the pheromone-producing crural glands found in many other Onychophora, such as Euperipatoides rowelli . [13]
Newborns of P. novaezealandiae s. str. are pure white with slightly purple antennae. [7] [14] Other P. novaezealandiae-complex morphs are born with pigments, possibly differentiating them from P. novaezealandiae s. str. [11]
Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. is endemic to New Zealand. [9]
Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. is limited to Wellington, Wairarapa, and southern Hawke's Bay regions in places such as Miller reserve, Otari, Akatarawa, Waiohine, Carterton, and Pahiatua. [3]
Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. is usually found within or beneath rotting logs. [3] [12] Sufficient moisture is vital for all Onychophora as they cannot regulate water loss due to a lack of both a waxy cuticle and tracheal spiracles. [13] [9] [15]
As with all of P. novaezealandiae-complex, Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. use lecithotrophic viviparity to reproduce and supply nutrition to their young. [8] This means embryos are surrounded by egg membranes and derive nutrition from a yolk while inside the ovary. [8] Hatching and birth are simultaneous. [8]
Juveniles go through three stages: [11]
Peripatids grow by moulting the outer cuticle when it becomes too restrictive. [15] P. novaezealandiae s. str. is an iteroparous batch breeder, meaning that it produces young in discontinuous batches. [14]
Males of P. novaezealandiae s. str. reach sexual maturity between 40–60 mg body weight, while females reach sexual maturity between 80–95 mg body weight. [12] Females with embryos are usually between 114–508 mg but can be as large as 800 mg. [12] Prior to the development of the first embryos, female paired uteri are white and thin. [12] Subsequently, the uteri are thick-walled, yellow, and baggy for all mature females. [12]
Females can store sperm in spermathecae, [12] possibly for more than two years. [11] Dissections show that both males and females contain sperm in all months of the year. [12]
In some Onychophora, spermatophores (capsules containing sperm) from the male attach themselves to the integument of the females. [16] Sperm invade the haemolymph (body cavity), making their way to the reproductive tract. [16] No spermatophores or scars have been found on female P. novaezealandiae-complex, but sperm has been found within the haemolymph. [12] Evidence suggests sperm transfer in this species is dermal-haemocoelic (through skin into the body cavity), but this has yet to be confirmed. [12]
Like others in their genus, the Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. is a nocturnal predator. [7] [15]
Captive individuals of P. novaezealandiae-complex have been sustained with flies. [7] An abundance of centipedes have been found in logs that also contain P. novaezealandiae s. str., suggesting a possible predator-prey relationship. [14]
Peripatids use their oral papillae to shoot out sticky slime which thickens upon contact with the air and covers prey in a strong, net-like structure. [7] [15] They approach and use their jaws to puncture the cuticle of the trapped animal, injecting digestive enzymes and sucking up the liquefied remains. [7] [15] [8]
Globally there has been very little research on the ecology of Onychophora. [19] Several species, including spiders and beetles, have been found in rotting logs along with P. novaezealandiae s. str.. [14] It is unknown if these species are predators, prey, or perhaps either depending on the specific interaction. [14] Observations on iNaturalist have shown two species eating P. novaezealandiae s. str., a harvestman ( Nuncia conjuncta ssp. conjuncta ) and a cave wētā ( Miotopus diversus ).
External nematodes have been found behind the oral papillae of P. novaezealandiae s. str., but there is no evidence of parasitism. [14] Mites have also been found on the integument, but without evidence of any feeding. [14] Both relationships may be better characterised as phoresy, where species are transported by the peripatus without causing harm. [14]
No internal parasites or damage consistent with fungal infection have been found in P. novaezealandiae. [14]
As a whole, P. novaezealandiae-complex is classed as ‘not threatened’ according to the 2018 New Zealand Threat Classification System. [1] In part, this is because the allozymatic species have not all been described and little is known about their distribution. [20]
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