Paropisthopatus Explained

Paropisthopatus is a monospecific genus of velvet worm containing the single species Paropisthopatus umbrinus.^[1] Females of this species range from 20 mm to 70 mm in length.^[2] The type locality is in central Chile.^[3] Velvet worms in this genus have 16 pairs of legs.^[4] 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.

A second species assigned to this genus, Paropisthopatus costesi (Gravier & Fage, 1925), is considered a nomen dubium by Oliveira et al., 2012.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Updated Onychophora checklist. Onychophora Website. 3 July 2016.
2. Monge-Nájera. Julián. 1994. Reproductive trends, habitat type and body characteristcs in velvet worms (Onychophora). Revista de Biología Tropical. 42 . 3 . en. 611–622. 2215-2075.
3. Oliveira. I. S.. Read. V. M. S. J.. Mayer. G.. A world checklist of Onychophora (velvet worms), with notes on nomenclature and status of names. ZooKeys. 2012. 211. 1–70. 10.3897/zookeys.211.3463. 22930648. 3426840. free. 2012ZooK..211....1O .
4. Reid . A. L. . 1996 . Review of the Peripatopsidae (Onychophora) in Australia, with comments on peripatopsid relationships . Invertebrate Systematics . en . 10 . 4 . 663–936 . 10.1071/it9960663 . 1447-2600.