Peripatopsis

Peripatopsis is a genus of velvet worms belonging to the family Peripatidae. These terrestrial invertebrates are native to Southern Africa. Velvet worms are characterized by their segmented bodies, covered in small, velvety papillae. They possess multiple pairs of unjointed legs, which they use for locomotion. A distinctive feature of Peripatopsis, like other Onychophora, is the presence of slime papillae near their head, from which they can eject a sticky secretion to immobilize prey.

The genus Peripatopsis is distinct from other velvet worm genera based on morphological characteristics, including the number of leg-bearing segments and the arrangement of their dorsal tubercles. They are typically found in moist, cool environments, such as under leaf litter, logs, and rocks in forests and grasslands. Their diet consists primarily of small invertebrates like insects and other arthropods, which they capture using their specialized slime-shooting ability. Reproduction in Peripatopsis can involve either oviparous (egg-laying) or viviparous (live-bearing) strategies, depending on the species. Several species within the genus are known, each with specific geographic distributions within Southern Africa. Their ecological role is that of a predator within their microhabitat.