Opisthopatus is a genus of South African velvet worms in the family Peripatopsidae. Species in this genus have 16 to 18 pairs of legs. They give birth to live young.
Peripatopsis is a genus of South African velvet worms in the Peripatopsidae family. The number of legs in this genus ranges from as few as 16 pairs to as many as 25 pairs and varies within species when the number is greater than 18 pairs. Velvet worms in this genus feature a last pair of legs that is rudimentary or reduced in size, mainly in males.
Peripatidae is a family of velvet worms. The oldest putative representatives of the family herald from Burmese amber dated to the mid-Cretaceous, around 100 Ma, with representatives from Dominican and Baltic amber attesting to a broader distribution in the Palaeogene / Neogene; molecular variability suggests that the family's crown group may have arisen in the early Mesozoic.
Peripatopsidae is one of the two living velvet worm families.
Metaperipatus is a genus of velvet worms in the family Peripatopsidae that includes the species Metaperipatus inae. Males of this species have 20 pairs of legs; females have 22 pairs. This species is a dark grayish blue in color, with large orange/red spots. When walking, females of this species can be as long as 85 mm, and males can be as long as 60 mm. The type locality is in central Chile.
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.
Paraperipatus papuensis is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. Males in this species have 21 to 27 pairs of legs; females have 21 to 29 leg pairs. The maximum number of leg pairs recorded in this species (29) is also the maximum number of leg pairs found in the family Peripatopsidae. Females range from 22 mm to 83 mm in length, whereas males range from 19 mm to 45 mm. The type locality is in Western New Guinea, Indonesia.
Peripatopsis balfouri is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species has 18 pairs of clawed legs. Females of this species range from 8 mm to 43 mm in length, whereas males range from 8 mm to 32 mm. The type locality is in South Africa.
Peripatopsis birgeri is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. The number of legs in this species varies from 21 pregenital pairs to 22 pregenital pairs.
Peripatopsis hamerae is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. Males of this species have 22 pairs of pregenital legs and one pair of genital legs; females have 23 pairs of pregenital legs and one pair of genital legs.
Peripatopsis intermedia is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species has 19 pairs of legs: 18 pregenital leg pairs plus a last pair of much reduced legs. The type locality is in South Africa.
Peripatopsis lawrencei is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species has 18 pairs of legs: 17 pregenital leg pairs plus one last pair that is strongly reduced and without claws or spinous pads. This species is restricted to the Theewaterskloof-Overstrand region of South Africa.
Peripatopsis moseleyi is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. Females of this species have 19 to 23 pairs of legs with claws ; males have 20 to 24 pairs of legs with claws. Females range from 11 mm to 75 mm in length, whereas males range from 9 mm to 50 mm. The type locality is in South Africa.
Peripatopsis sedgwicki is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species can have either 20 or 21 pairs of legs, but descriptions have usually reported 20 pairs of clawed legs. Females of this species range in size from 12 mm to 68 mm in length, whereas males range from 10 mm to 46 mm in length. The type locality is in South Africa.
Peripatopsis overbergiensis, the Overberg velvet worm, is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species usually has 19 pairs of legs: 18 pregenital leg pairs plus one last pair that is strongly reduced and without claws or spinous pads. Some specimens, however, have only 18 leg pairs. This species is limited to the Overberg region of South Africa.
Peripatopsis purpureus is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. Named for its purple-blue color, this species is found in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Peripatopsis storchi is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. The number of legs in this species ranges from 21 pregenital pairs to 23 pregenital pairs.
Peripatopsis alba, the white cave velvet worm, is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. This species has 18 pairs of clawed legs, with the last pair reduced, and no eyes.
Peripatopsis clavigera, the Knysna velvet worm, is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species has 16 pairs of legs. Females of this species range from 7 mm to 52 mm in length, whereas males range from 7 mm to 36 mm. Peripatopsis clavigera is found in subtropical or tropical moist montane forests of South Africa.
Peripatopsis leonina, the Lion's Hill velvet worm, is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species has 20 to 24 pairs of legs, usually 21 or 22 leg pairs, with the last pair of legs reduced. Females of this species range from 7 mm to 41 mm in length, whereas males range from 7 mm to 34 mm.
