Peripatopsis moseleyi

Last updated

Peripatopsis moseleyi
Peripatopsis moseleyi 15201108.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Onychophora
Class: Udeonychophora
Order: Euonychophora
Family: Peripatopsidae
Genus: Peripatopsis
Species:
P. moseleyi
Binomial name
Peripatopsis moseleyi
(Wood-Mason, 1879)
Synonyms
  • Peripatus moseleyiWood-Mason, 1879

Peripatopsis moseleyi is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. [1] Males of this species (as traditionally defined) have 20 to 24 pairs of legs with claws (plus one pair without claws); [2] females have 19 to 23 pairs of legs with claws (plus one pair without claws). [3] Females range from 11 mm to 75 mm in length, whereas males range from 9 mm to 50 mm. [4] The type locality is in South Africa. [5]

More recent phylogenetic results indicate that this species as traditionally defined is instead a species complex (P. moseleyi sensu lato) containing five genetically distinct clades, now described as separate species: P. birgeri , P. hamerae , P. janni , P. stortchi , and P. moseleyi sensu stricto. Males of this species more narrowly defined (P. moseleyi sensu stricto) have 22 to 24 pregenital pairs of legs (plus one genital pair); females have 23 pregenital pairs (plus one genital pair). Female specimens range from 42 mm to 60 mm in length; males range from 22 mm to 40 mm in length. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Peripatopsis</i> Genus of velvet worms

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.

<i>Leucopatus</i> Genus and species of velvet worm

Leucopatus is a genus of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae, containing a single species, the blind velvet worm. It is found in northeast Tasmania, Australia, and is ovoviviparous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peripatopsidae</span> Family of velvet worms

Peripatopsidae is one of the two living velvet worm families.

<i>Epiperipatus biolleyi</i> Species of velvet worm

Epiperipatus biolleyi is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family. This species is red, without any pattern, on its dorsal surface. Females of this species have 28 to 32 pairs of legs; males have 25 to 30. Females range from 18 mm to 75 mm in length, with a mean length of 52 mm, whereas males range from 18 mm to 55 mm, with a mean length of 38 mm. The type locality is in Costa Rica.

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.

Ooperipatellus decoratus is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. It is found in Tasmania, Australia.

Peripatopsis balfouri is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species has 18 pairs of clawed legs. Specimens range from 9 mm to 22 mm in length. 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 bolandi is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. This species is found in the Hottentots Holland Mountain region in South Africa.

<i>Peripatopsis capensis</i> Species of velvet worm

Peripatopsis capensis is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species has 18 pairs of legs: 17 pregenital leg pairs with claws plus one last pair that is strongly reduced and without claws or spinous pads. Females of this species range from 9 mm to 70 mm in length, whereas males range from 6 mm to 54 mm. The native range of this species is limited to the Cape Peninsula of South Africa.

Peripatopsis cederbergiensis is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. Males of this species have 17 clawed legs with the last pair highly reduced, whereas females have a complete foot with claws on the reduced leg. This species is charcoal black in color and is endemic to the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa.

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 janni 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.

<i>Peripatopsis lawrencei</i> Species of velvet worm

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 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 purpureus is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. Males of this species have 17 clawed legs with the last pair highly reduced, whereas females have a complete foot with claws on the reduced leg. 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.

<i>Peripatopsis alba</i> Species of velvet worm

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 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.

References

  1. Oliveira I. S.; Hering L.; Mayer, G. "Updated Onychophora checklist". Onychophora Website. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  2. Daniels, S. R.; Ruhberg, H. (2010). "Molecular and morphological variation in a South African velvet worm Peripatopsis moseleyi (Onychophora, Peripatopsidae): evidence for cryptic speciation". Journal of Zoology. 282 (3): 171–179. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2010.00722.x. ISSN   0952-8369.
  3. Hamer, M.L.; Samways, M.J.; Ruhberg, H. (1997). "A review of the Onychophora of South Africa, with discussion of their conservation". Annals of the Natal Museum. 38 (1): 283–312.
  4. Monge-Nájera, Julián (1994). "Reproductive trends, habitat type and body characteristcs in velvet worms (Onychophora)". Revista de Biología Tropical: 611–622. ISSN   2215-2075.
  5. Oliveira, I. S.; Read, V. M. S. J.; Mayer, G. (2012). "A world checklist of Onychophora (velvet worms), with notes on nomenclature and status of names". ZooKeys (211): 1–70. doi:10.3897/zookeys.211.3463. PMC   3426840 . PMID   22930648.
  6. Ruhberg, Hilke; Daniels, Savel R. (2013-05-24). "Morphological assessment supports the recognition of four novel species in the widely distributed velvet worm Peripatopsis moseleyi sensu lato (Onychophora : Peripatopsidae)". Invertebrate Systematics. 27 (2): 131–145. doi:10.1071/IS12069. ISSN   1447-2600.

Further reading