Tasmanipatus
Genus of peripatopsid velvet worm
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tasmanipatus barretti, the giant velvet worm, is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family.[1] It is the sole species in the genus Tasmanipatus[2][3] and is ovoviviparous.[4]
Ruhberg, Mesibov, Briscoe & Tait, 1991
| Tasmanipatus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Tasmanipatus barretti | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Onychophora |
| Family: | Peripatopsidae |
| Genus: | Tasmanipatus Ruhberg, Mesibov, Briscoe & Tait, 1991 |
| Species: | T. barretti |
| Binomial name | |
| Tasmanipatus barretti Ruhberg, Mesibov, Briscoe & Tait, 1991 | |
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| Map of Tasmania with the distribution Tasmanipatus in pink | |
| Synonyms | |
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Discovery and naming
Tasmanipatus barretti was described by Ruhberg et al. in 1991.[5][6] The generic name "Tasmanipatus" refers to the species' distribution in Tasmania, Australia. The specific name "barretti" refers to Australian naturalist Charles Leslie Barrett, who was sent a specimen from St Marys. Barrett is thought to have published the first record of the species, though he did not recognize it as a new species.[6] The animal's common name refers to its size, being fairly large when compared to other Peripatopsids. However, much larger velvet worms exist in the family Peripatidae (see Mongeperipatus solorzanoi).[citation needed]
Description
Tasmanipatus has a mauve colored back with a slightly darker dorsomedial furrow running along its midline. The animal has a pair of antennae, two ocelli, a pair of Slime papillae, and 15 pairs of legs called lobopods. Adults are typically 35-40 millimeters long but can extend to 75 millimeters while walking.[6]
Classification
Tasmanipatus is an onychophoran from the family Peripatopsidae.[7][8] It falls within a large Australasian clade, being closely related to southern genera like Diemenipatus, Peripatoides, and Ooperipatellus. Below is a genus-level phylogeny of Peripatopsid velvet worms.[8] As it doesn't include every genus of peripatopsid, it eventually needs updating.[7]
| Peripatopsidae |
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