Peripatopsis is a genus of velvet worms in the Peripatopsidae family. These velvet worms are found in the KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. This genus was proposed by the British zoologist Reginald I. Pocock in 1894 with Peripatopsis capensis designated as the type species.
Description The number of legs in this genus ranges from as few as 16 pairs (e.g., in P. clavigera) to as many as 25 pairs (in P. moseleyi) and can vary within species. Velvet worms in this genus feature a last pair of legs (the genital pair) that is rudimentary or reduced in size, mainly in males. The feet in this genus feature three distal papillae: two anterior and one posterior. The gonopore in the male is cross-shaped but in the female takes the form of a longitudinal slit.
Reproduction This genus exhibits matrotrophic viviparity, that is, mothers in this genus retain eggs in their uteri and supply nourishment to their embryos, but without any placenta. Eggs are fertilized through dermal insemination. Males place spermatophores on the skin of females, which allows the entry of sperm at the point of contact. Embryonic development in this genus takes 12 to 13 months, during which the mother contains up to 20 embryos, all at about the same stage of development. The young are born alive tail first, one or two at a time, all within a short period of time. The young resemble adults in form but are smaller.
Species The genus Peripatopsis consists of the following species:
Peripatopsis aereus Daniels & Nieto Lawrence, 2024 Peripatopsis alba Lawrence, 1931 — white cave velvet worm Peripatopsis balfouri (Sedgwick, 1885); type species Peripatopsis barnardi Daniels & Barnes, 2025 Peripatopsis birgeri Ruhberg & Daniels, 2013 Peripatopsis bolandi Daniels, McDonald & Picker, 2013 Peripatopsis capensis (Grube, 1866) Peripatopsis cederbergiensis Daniels, McDonald & Picker, 2013 Peripatopsis clavigera Purcell, 1899 — Knysna velvet worm Peripatopsis collarium Barnes & Daniels, 2024 Peripatopsis edenensis Barnes, Reiss & Daniels, 2020 Peripatopsis fernkloofi Daniels & Barnes, 2025 Peripatopsis ferox Barnes, Reiss & Daniels, 2020 Peripatopsis hamerae Ruhberg & Daniels, 2013 Peripatopsis intermedia Hutchinson, 1928 Peripatopsis janni Ruhberg & Daniels, 2013 Peripatopsis jonkershoeki Daniels & Barnes, 2025 Peripatopsis kogelbergi Daniels & Barnes, 2025 Peripatopsis landroskoppie Daniels & Barnes, 2025 Peripatopsis lawrencei McDonald, Ruhberg & Daniels, 2012 Peripatopsis leonina Purcell, 1899 — Lion's Hill velvet worm Peripatopsis limietbergi Daniels & Barnes, 2025 Peripatopsis margaritarius Barnes & Daniels, 2024 Peripatopsis mellaria Barnes, Reiss & Daniels, 2020 Peripatopsis mira Barnes, Reiss & Daniels, 2020 Peripatopsis moseleyi (Wood-Mason, 1879) Peripatopsis orientalis Barnes & Daniels, 2024 Peripatopsis overbergiensis McDonald, Ruhberg & Daniels, 2012 — Overberg velvet worm Peripatopsis palmeri Daniels & Barnes, 2025 Peripatopsis polychroma Grobler, Myburgh, Barnes & Daniels, 2023 Peripatopsis purpureus Daniels, McDonald & Picker, 2013 Peripatopsis sedgwicki Purcell, 1899 — Tsitsikamma velvet worm Peripatopsis storchi Ruhberg & Daniels, 2013 Peripatopsis tulbaghensis Barnes, Reiss & Daniels, 2020
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