Ooperipatellus nanus

Ooperipatellus nanus is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the South Island.

Ooperipatellus nanus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Onychophora
Class:
Udeonychophora
Order:
Euonychophora
Family:
Peripatopsidae
Genus:
Ooperipatellus
Species:
O. nanus
Binomial name
Ooperipatellus nanus
Ruhberg, 1985[1]

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Hilke Ruhberg in 1985.[2]

Description

O. nanus is a small species of velvet worm that grows to a length of approximately 10 mm.[3] It has 13 pairs of legs which is the lowest number of all the known species of velvet worms in New Zealand.[3]

Distribution

O. nanus has only been found in Southland, in the Takitimu Mountains.[2]

Life cycle

This species produce young by laying eggs from which the young subsequently hatch.[3]

Host species

O. nanus are found mainly in rotting beech logs.[4]

Conservation Status

This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[5]

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References
  1. Oliveira, I.; Hering, L. & Mayer, G. "Updated Onychophora checklist". Onychophora Website. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  2. Harris, A. C (1991). "A large aggregation of Peripatoides novaezealandiae (Hutton, 1876) (Onycophora: Peripatopsidae)". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 21 (4): 405–406. doi:10.1080/03036758.1991.10420836.
  3. Allwood, Julia; Gleeson, Dianne; Mayer, Georg; Daniels, Savel; Beggs, Jacqueline R.; Buckley, Thomas R. (April 2010). "Support for vicariant origins of the New Zealand Onychophora". Journal of Biogeography. 37 (4): 669–681. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.2009.02233.x.
  4. "Current Taxonomic Status: Onychophora". Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  5. Trewick, Steve; Hitchmough, Rod; Rolfe, Jeremy; Stringer, Ian (2018). Conservation status of New Zealand Onychophora ('peripatus' or velvet worm), 2018 (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 26. Department of Conservation. pp. 1–3. ISBN 9781988514703 – via Department of Conservation.


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