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Peripatoides novaezealandiae
Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. is an allozymatic (reproductively isolated) species of velvet worms in the Peripatoides novaezealandiae-complex,[2] endemic to New Zealand. Other described species include P. aurorbis, P. kawekaensis, P. morgani and P. sympatrica.[3] Description _from_New_Zealand_-_observations_on_selected_morphs_of_the_%27Peripatoides_novaezealandiae-complex%27_in_culture_-_morphological_and_reproductive_aspects.png) As with all Onychophora, Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. has a long, worm-like body, a head, and an anal cone.[6][7] The head has three pairs of modified limbs: the antennae, the jaws, and the oral papillae.[6][7] Their skin is velvety in texture and the sticky slime projected from their oral papillae does not stick to it.[6] They respire via two rows of trachea on the dorsal surface, which alternate with the legs.[6] All species in the P. novaezealandiae-complex have fifteen pairs of unjointed, hollow cone-like limbs called lobopods.[6][2] This distinguishes them from the closely related P. suteri which has sixteen pairs of lobopods.[8][9] Peripatoides novaezealandiae-complex has three complete spinous pads and a fourth fragmented pad on the ventral side of the legs.[10] Individuals all have three distal papillae on the feet.[10][2] Colour varies from brownish red to purplish black, but there is usually a thin black dorsal stripe.[6] A bulge of orange-coloured papillae near the eyes is characteristic of the P. novaezealandiae-complex.[10] Length varies from 2.5–5 cm.[2] Males can reach a weight of up to 200 mg while adult female weight varies more widely, with some specimens of over 800 mg.[11] Morphologically, males can usually be distinguished from females by the presence of a pair of posterior orange papillae which mark the opening of the anal glands.[2][11] These papillae appear before maturity, so cannot be used to identify sexually mature males.[11] Males in the P. novaezealandiae-complex do not have the pheromone-producing crural glands found in many other Onychophora, such as Euperipatoides rowelli.[12] Newborns of P. novaezealandiae s. str. are pure white with slightly purple antennae.[6][13] Other P. novaezealandiae-complex morphs are born with pigments, possibly differentiating them from P. novaezealandiae s. str.[10] Distribution and habitatNatural global rangePeripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. is endemic to New Zealand.[8] New Zealand rangePeripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. is limited to Wellington, Wairarapa, and southern Hawke's Bay regions in places such as Miller reserve, Otari, Akatarawa, Waiohine, Carterton, and Pahiatua.[2] Habitat preferencesPeripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. is usually found within or beneath rotting logs.[2][11] Sufficient moisture is vital for all Onychophora as they cannot regulate water loss due to a lack of both a waxy cuticle and tracheal spiracles.[12][8][14] Life cycleAs with all of P. novaezealandiae-complex, Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. use lecithotrophic viviparity to reproduce and supply nutrition to their young.[7] This means embryos are surrounded by egg membranes and derive nutrition from a yolk while inside the ovary.[7] Hatching and birth are simultaneous.[7] Juveniles go through three stages:[10]
Peripatids grow by moulting the outer cuticle when it becomes too restrictive.[14] P. novaezealandiae s. str. is an iteroparous batch breeder, meaning that it produces young in discontinuous batches.[13] Males of P. novaezealandiae s. str. reach sexual maturity between 40–60 mg body weight, while females reach sexual maturity between 80–95 mg body weight.[11] Females with embryos are usually between 114–508 mg but can be as large as 800 mg.[11] Prior to the development of the first embryos, female paired uteri are white and thin.[11] Subsequently, the uteri are thick-walled, yellow, and baggy for all mature females.[11] Females can store sperm in spermathecae,[11] possibly for more than two years.[10] Dissections show that both males and females contain sperm in all months of the year.[11] In some Onychophora, spermatophores (capsules containing sperm) from the male attach themselves to the integument of the females.[15] Sperm invade the haemolymph (body cavity), making their way to the reproductive tract.[15] No spermatophores or scars have been found on female P. novaezealandiae-complex, but sperm has been found within the haemolymph.[11] Evidence suggests sperm transfer in this species is dermal-haemocoelic (through skin into the body cavity), but this has yet to be confirmed.[11] Diet and foraging   Like others in their genus, the Peripatoides novaezealandiae s. str. is a nocturnal predator.[6][14] Captive individuals of P. novaezealandiae-complex have been sustained with flies.[6] An abundance of centipedes have been found in logs that also contain P. novaezealandiae s. str., suggesting a possible predator-prey relationship.[13] Peripatids use their oral papillae to shoot out sticky slime which thickens upon contact with the air and covers prey in a strong, net-like structure.[6][14] They approach and use their jaws to puncture the cuticle of the trapped animal, injecting digestive enzymes and sucking up the liquefied remains.[6][14][7] Predators, parasites, and diseasesGlobally there has been very little research on the ecology of Onychophora.[18] Several species, including spiders and beetles, have been found in rotting logs along with P. novaezealandiae s. str..[13] It is unknown if these species are predators, prey, or perhaps either depending on the specific interaction.[13] Observations on iNaturalist have shown two species eating P. novaezealandiae s. str., a harvestman (Nuncia conjuncta ssp. conjuncta) and a cave wētā (Miotopus diversus). External nematodes have been found behind the oral papillae of P. novaezealandiae s. str., but there is no evidence of parasitism.[13] Mites have also been found on the integument, but without evidence of any feeding.[13] Both relationships may be better characterised as phoresy, where species are transported by the peripatus without causing harm.[13] No internal parasites or damage consistent with fungal infection have been found in P. novaezealandiae.[13] Conservation statusAs a whole, P. novaezealandiae-complex is classed as ‘not threatened’ according to the 2018 New Zealand Threat Classification System.[19] In part, this is because the allozymatic species have not all been described and little is known about their distribution.[20] References
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