Tasmanipatus barretti

The giant velvet worm (Tasmanipatus barretti) is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family.[1]

Tasmanipatus barretti
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Onychophora
Class:	Udeonychophora
Order:	Euonychophora
Family:	Peripatopsidae
Genus:	Tasmanipatus
Species:	T. barretti
Binomial name
Tasmanipatus barretti Ruhberg et al. 1991
Synonyms
Ooperipatus insignis (Barrett, 1938)

Taxonomy

Tasmanipatus barretti was described by Ruhberg et al. in 1991.. 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 recognise it as a new species.[2]

Description

The dorsal surface is mauve with a darker median stripe. The ventral surface is creamy-white. There are 15 pairs of oncopods. Adults are typically 35–40 mm long, but may extend to 75 mm while walking.[2]

References

1. Oliveira, I. S.; Hering, L. & Mayer, G. "Updated Onychophora checklist". Onychophora Website. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
2. Ruhberg, H.; Mesibov, R.; Briscoe, D. A.; Tait, N. N. (1991). "Tasmanipatus barretti gen. nov., sp. nov. and Tasmanipatus anophthalmus sp. no.: two new and unusual onychophorans (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae) from northeastern Tasmania". Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania. 125: 7–10.