Peripatoides novaezealandiae | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Onychophora |
Family: | Peripatopsidae |
Genus: | Peripatoides |
Species: | P. novaezealandiae |
Binomial name | |
Peripatoides novaezealandiae (Hutton, 1876) [1] | |
Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. is an allozymatic (reproductively isolated) species of velvet worms in the Peripatoides novaezealandiae-complex, [2] endemic to New Zealand. Other described species include P. aurorbis, P. kawekaensis, P. morgani and P. sympatrica. [3]
As with all Onychophora, Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. has a long, worm-like body, a head, and an anal cone. [6] [7] The head has three pairs of modified limbs: the antennae, the jaws, and the oral papillae. [6] [7] Their skin is velvety in texture and the sticky slime projected from their oral papillae does not stick to it. [6] They respire via two rows of trachea on the dorsal surface, which alternate with the legs. [6]
All species in the P. novaezealandiae-complex have fifteen pairs of unjointed, hollow cone-like limbs called lobopods. [6] [2] This distinguishes them from the closely related P. suteri which has sixteen pairs of lobopods. [8] [9] Peripatoides novaezealandiae-complex has three complete spinous pads and a fourth fragmented pad on the ventral side of the legs. [10] Individuals all have three distal papillae on the feet. [10] [2]
Colour varies from brownish red to purplish black, but there is usually a thin black dorsal stripe. [6] A bulge of orange-coloured papillae near the eyes is characteristic of the P. novaezealandiae-complex. [10]
Length varies from 2.5–5 cm. [2] Males can reach a weight of up to 200 mg while adult female weight varies more widely, with some specimens of over 800 mg. [11]
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. [2] [11] These papillae appear before maturity, so cannot be used to identify sexually mature males. [11] Males in the P. novaezealandiae-complex do not have the pheromone-producing crural glands found in many other Onychophora, such as Euperipatoides rowelli . [12]
Newborns of P. novaezealandiae s. str. are pure white with slightly purple antennae. [6] [13] Other P. novaezealandiae-complex morphs are born with pigments, possibly differentiating them from P. novaezealandiae s. str. [10]
Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. is endemic to New Zealand. [8]
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. [2]
Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. is usually found within or beneath rotting logs. [2] [11] 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. [12] [8] [14]
As with all of P. novaezealandiae-complex, Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. use lecithotrophic viviparity to reproduce and supply nutrition to their young. [7] This means embryos are surrounded by egg membranes and derive nutrition from a yolk while inside the ovary. [7] Hatching and birth are simultaneous. [7]
Juveniles go through three stages: [10]
Peripatids grow by moulting the outer cuticle when it becomes too restrictive. [14] P. novaezealandiae s. str. is an iteroparous batch breeder, meaning that it produces young in discontinuous batches. [13]
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. [11] Females with embryos are usually between 114–508 mg but can be as large as 800 mg. [11] Prior to the development of the first embryos, female paired uteri are white and thin. [11] Subsequently, the uteri are thick-walled, yellow, and baggy for all mature females. [11]
Females can store sperm in spermathecae, [11] possibly for more than two years. [10] Dissections show that both males and females contain sperm in all months of the year. [11]
In some Onychophora, spermatophores (capsules containing sperm) from the male attach themselves to the integument of the females. [15] Sperm invade the haemolymph (body cavity), making their way to the reproductive tract. [15] No spermatophores or scars have been found on female P. novaezealandiae-complex, but sperm has been found within the haemolymph. [11] Evidence suggests sperm transfer in this species is dermal-haemocoelic (through skin into the body cavity), but this has yet to be confirmed. [11]
Like others in their genus, the Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. is a nocturnal predator. [6] [14]
Captive individuals of P. novaezealandiae-complex have been sustained with flies. [6] An abundance of centipedes have been found in logs that also contain P. novaezealandiae s. str., suggesting a possible predator-prey relationship. [13]
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. [6] [14] They approach and use their jaws to puncture the cuticle of the trapped animal, injecting digestive enzymes and sucking up the liquefied remains. [6] [14] [7]
Globally there has been very little research on the ecology of Onychophora. [18] Several species, including spiders and beetles, have been found in rotting logs along with P. novaezealandiae s. str.. [13] It is unknown if these species are predators, prey, or perhaps either depending on the specific interaction. [13] 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. [13] Mites have also been found on the integument, but without evidence of any feeding. [13] Both relationships may be better characterised as phoresy, where species are transported by the peripatus without causing harm. [13]
No internal parasites or damage consistent with fungal infection have been found in P. novaezealandiae. [13]
As a whole, P. novaezealandiae-complex is classed as ‘not threatened’ according to the 2018 New Zealand Threat Classification System. [19] 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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