Tasmanipatus barretti, the giant velvet worm, is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. It is the sole species in the genus Tasmanipatus and is ovoviviparous.
Discovery and naming
Tasmanipatus barretti was described by Ruhberg et al. in 1991. The animal's common name refers to its size, being fairly large when compared to other Peripatopsids. However, much larger velvet worms exist in the family Peripatidae (see Mongeperipatus solorzanoi). == Description ==
Description
Tasmanipatus has a mauve colored back with a slightly darker dorsomedial furrow running along its midline. The animal has a pair of antennae, two ocelli, a pair of Slime papillae, and 15 pairs of legs called lobopods. Adults are typically 35-40 millimeters long but can extend to 75 millimeters while walking. == Classification ==
Classification
Tasmanipatus is an onychophoran from the family Peripatopsidae. It falls within a large Australasian clade, being closely related to southern genera like Diemenipatus, Peripatoides, and Ooperipatellus. Below is a genus-level phylogeny of Peripatopsid velvet worms. As it doesn't include every genus of peripatopsid, it eventually needs updating. == Distribution and habitat ==