Peripatopsis

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 (e.g., in P. clavigera) to as many as 25 pairs (in P. moseleyi) and varies within species when the number is greater than 18 pairs. 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 leg papillae: two anterior and one posterior.

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. 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)
 * Peripatopsis birgeri Ruhberg & Daniels, 2013
 * Peripatopsis bolandi Daniels et al., 2013
 * Peripatopsis capensis (Grube, 1866)
 * Peripatopsis cederbergiensis Daniels et al., 2013
 * Peripatopsis clavigera Purcell, 1899 — Knysna velvet worm
 * Peripatopsis edenensis Barnes et al., 2020
 * Peripatopsis ferox Barnes et al., 2020
 * Peripatopsis hamerae Ruhberg & Daniels, 2013
 * Peripatopsis intermedia Hutchinson, 1928
 * Peripatopsis janni Ruhberg & Daniels, 2013
 * Peripatopsis lawrencei McDonald et al., 2012
 * Peripatopsis leonina Purcell, 1899 — Lion's Hill velvet worm
 * Peripatopsis mellaria Barnes et al., 2020
 * Peripatopsis mira Barnes et al., 2020
 * Peripatopsis moseleyi (Wood-Mason, 1879)
 * Peripatopsis overbergiensis McDonald et al., 2012 — Overberg velvet worm
 * Peripatopsis polychroma Grobler et al., 2023
 * Peripatopsis purpureus Daniels et al., 2013
 * Peripatopsis sedgwicki Purcell, 1899 — Tsitsikamma velvet worm
 * Peripatopsis storchi Ruhberg & Daniels, 2013
 * Peripatopsis tulbaghensis Barnes et al., 2020