S. Afr. I. Zoo!. 1988,23(4) 255 Observations on Peripatopsis clavigera (Onychophora, Peripatopsidae) Karen Hofmann* Institut fUr Zoologie I der Universitat Eriangen-NOrnberg, West Germany Received 15 September 1987; accepted 15 February 1988 The colouring of live specimens and female reproductive system with associated developmental stages of Peripatopsis c/avigera are described. An unusually dense population of this rare species was found in Harkerville State Forest, southern Cape region. Colouration of these specimens differs distinctly from that of the four syntypes described by Purcell (1897). Early developmental stages show a trophic vesicle as described for some other Peripatopsis species (Manton 1949). Endoparastic worms (Acanthocephala) were found in the haemocoel of one female specimen. Die kleur van die lewendige organismes en die vroulike geslagsorgane en geassosieerde embrionale ontwikkelingstadiums van Peripatopsis c/avigera word beskryf. 'n Buitengewoon digte bevolking van hierdie rare spesies is in die Harkerville-staatsbos in die suidelike Kaapse streek gevind. Die kleur van hierdie individue verskil heelwat van die vier sintipes soos deur Purcell (1897) beskryf. Die vroee ontwikkelingstadiums besit 'n trofiese vesikel wat deur Manton (1949) vir sekere ander Peripatopsis-spesies beskryf is. Endoparasitiese wurms (Acanthocephala) is in die hemoseel van een vroulike individu gevind. 'Present adress: Am Haag 36, 6232 Bad Soden 2, West Germany The Onychophora comprise two families: the Peripatidae appears to be restricted to the forests of Knysna and and the Peripatopsidae. While the Peripatidae have a Tsitsikama (Ruhberg 1985). At Kranshoek (Harkerville circum equatorial distribution, the Peripatopsidae are District, 34°05'S / 30°02' E) , an indigenous forest area, confined to the southern hemisphere. In southern Africa, 35 female specimens, were located in and under rotten the two genera with nine species are distributed logs from 80 m altitude to a few meters above sea level. throughout the present and fonner indeginous forest Substrate pH ranged from 3,8to 6,0 (n = 6). As at other . areas. localities Peripatopsis sedgwicki Purcell 1899 occured ) 0 Peripatopsis clavigera (Purcell 1899) is a rare species of sympatrically with P. clavigera. P. sedgwicki was usually 1 0 South African Onychophora. Since the last specimen was more abundant than P. clavigera, however at Kranshoek 2 d collected in the Garden of Eden, Knysna, 1975 (Ruhberg only a few specimens of P. sedgwicki were found. e t 1985), it was commonly believed to be extinct. The a d ( biology of P. clavigera is practically unknown: a short Pigmentation in live specimens r e description of live and preserved specimens is given by The dorsal side is medium to dark brown with a black h s Purcell (1897, 1899), and a review of all available i mid-line and orange-red papillae (mostly brown tipped) l b infonnation concerning distribution, morphology and distributed randomly over the whole dorsal surface and u P anatomy by Ruhberg (1985). the outer surface of the legs. The ventral side and the e In January 1984 an unusually dense population of P. h inner surface of the legs are pink. The antennae are dark t clavigera was discovered in Harkerville State Forest y brown to black and the spinous pads are bright green. In b between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. This paper d four of 29 animals, that part of the head bearing the e describes the colouring of live specimens and the female t slime papillae has a lighter pigmented area in the shape n reproductive system with associated embryonic develop­ a of a band of the same orange-red colour found in some r mental stages of this species. g of the major papillae. The body colour of those embryos e c in a stage prior to parturition is light pink; while their n e Material and methods c antennae, slime papillae and feet are green. Already in i l Live specimens, collected in January and October 1984, this stage the lighter coloured band above the base of the r e were kept in glass tanks at 20-25°C and 75% R.H. on a d legs can be recognized. n substrate of humus, soil and rotten wood. Whole u y specimens were preserved in 10% formalin or 70% Genital tract and embryos a ethanol. Genital tracts and embryos dissected out of w e Onychophora are epimorphic and, except for a few t females in insect ringer solution were measured and then a Australasian species, are all viviparous (Siewing 1969). G fixed in Dubosq-Brazil or 10% formalin. The pH of t The sexes are separate. In the South African e humus samples collected from beneath rotten logs where n Peripatopsis species which do not posess a 'placenta' as i animals were discovered was measured. b described for South American species (Anderson & a S Manton 1972), the embryos of each brood are all of y Results b approximately the same developmental stage. Females d Locality e undergo parturition once a year after a 'pregnancy' of 12 c u In the Cape Province, the distribution of P. clavigera to 14 months (Purcell 1899; Manton 1949). d o r p e R r ""'" ..- " ... at ,100 _ ., Of _ -. 1 . _ ••• _,... .....,. ,..... • • t " ... ,..... __ .. , ........... __ ..... ".... ... ..__ ................... _ .. __ '1110 .... .... 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''''',.u.io .1''' a d 0<0j·1.".,..... _ ' .,~ 1m< ......_ 1<0 ( r e h s i l b u P e h t y b d e t n a r g e c n e c i l r e d n u y ,,~ __ • T.... _ ........ _ ....... _ a w --,. oj • , do .... , (Sr'''' 40» • _ _ • e t a '_I ,t G t e ~s td .... n r. __ .........;" ... _ .. i b _L ' , aI a ·"'1,_, ' • __ ..... S _I::: .........-aI iii........ I ••.,'" h .. ," ... y b ... Ok __ • ......., llifl<_ 0"· _ ......... £ ' .. ---_. d e ... , ' w4 , . ............. " _ c (Ok,...,.. ........... _ ' ......) ......... k " """'''''''' u .,..10<1_ .... _ d - , p - --... -." - """""- o r p e R 258 S.-Afr. Tydskr. Dierk. 1988,23(4) ectoparasites are known. Except for some fungi and the CHOONOO, D. 1947. A review of the morphology and