Peripatus is a genus of velvet worms in the Peripatidae family. The name "peripatus" is also used to refer to the Onychophora as a whole, although this group comprises many other genera besides Peripatus. The genus Peripatus is found in Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. Velvet worms in this genus can have as few as 24 or 25 pairs of legs or as many as 36 leg pairs. This genus is viviparous, with mothers supplying nourishment to their embryos through a placenta.
Macroperipatus is a genus of Neotropical velvet worms in the Peripatidae family. Velvet worms in this genus can have as few as 24 pairs of legs or as many as 42 leg pairs. This genus is viviparous, with mothers supplying nourishment to their embryos through a placenta.
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 million years ago, 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.
Heteroperipatus is a genus of Central American velvet worms in the Peripatidae family. The number of legs in this genus varies within species as well as among species and ranges from 26 pairs to 32 pairs. This genus is viviparous, with mothers supplying nourishment to their embryos through a placenta.
Oroperipatus is a genus of Neotropical velvet worms in the family Peripatidae. Species in this genus are found in South America west of the Andes and in Mexico. Velvet worms in this genus can have as few as 22 pairs of legs or as many as 40 leg pairs. This genus is viviparous, with mothers supplying nourishment to their embryos through a placenta.
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 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 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 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 diadenoproctus 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 to 28 pairs of legs, usually 27; females have 29 or 30, usually 29. The type locality is in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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 Peripatidae family. 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 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.
Epiperipatus ohausi is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatidae. Males of this species have 26 to 28 pairs of legs; females have 27 to 29.
Epiperipatus beckeri is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatidae. Females of this species have 28 to 30 pairs of legs. The type locality is in Bahia state in Brazil.
Epiperipatus hyperbolicus is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatidae. The males of this species have 23 pairs of legs; females have 24 or 25 pairs. The type locality is in Alagoas state in Brazil.
Epiperipatus lucerna is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatidae. The males of this species have 27 to 29 pairs of legs; females have 29 to 31 pairs. The type locality is in Alagoas state in Brazil.
Epiperipatus marajoara is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatidae. The males of this species have 27 pairs of legs; females have 31 pairs. The type locality is in Pará state in Brazil.
Epiperipatus titanicus is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatidae. This species is notable for the large size of its females and for its numerous legs. The type locality is in Alagoas state in Brazil.
