Epiperipatus imthurni

Epiperipatus imthurni
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Onychophora
Family: Peripatidae
Genus: Epiperipatus
Species:
E. imthurni
Binomial name
Epiperipatus imthurni
(Sclater, 1888)
Synonyms
  • Peripatus demeraranus (Sedgwick, 1888)
  • Peripatus imthurni (Sclater, 1888)
  • Peripatus (Epiperipatus) imthurmi (Clark, 1913)

Epiperipatus imthurni is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatidae.[1] This species ranges from light orange or yellowish brown to a dark brown on its dorsal surface; the ventral surface is a lighter orangeish shade of the same color.[2] The type locality is in Guyana.[3] No males have been recorded from this species. Females can reach a large size, up to 2.25 g in weight,[2] and range from 25 mm up to 96 mm in length.[4] They have 29 to 32 pairs of legs, usually 30 or 31.[2][5] Females from Trinidad were shown to reproduce via parthenogenesis; the only velvet worm known to do so.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Oliveira I.; Hering L. & Mayer, G. "Updated Onychophora checklist". Onychophora Website. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Read, V. M. St. J. (July 1988). "The Onychophora of Trinidad, Tobago, and the Lesser Antilles". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 93 (3): 225–57. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1988.tb01362.x.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Monge-Nájera, Julián (1994). "Reproductive trends, habitat type and body characteristics in velvet worms (Onychophora)". Revista de Biología Tropical. 42 (3): 611–622. ISSN 2215-2075.
  5. ^ Oliveira, Ivo S.; Lacorte, Gustavo A.; Fonseca, Cleusa G.; Wieloch, Alfredo H.; Mayer, Georg (2011-06-10). "Cryptic Speciation in Brazilian Epiperipatus (Onychophora: Peripatidae) Reveals an Underestimated Diversity among the Peripatid Velvet Worms". PLOS ONE. 6 (6): e19973. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0019973. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 3112143. PMID 21695250.