Descriptions of Lathropatus nemorum, gen. et. sp. Nov., and six new ooperipatus Dendy (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae) from South-Eastern Australia

Abstract

A new genus and species, Lathropatus nemorum (Onychopora : Peripatopsidae), from near Portland in western Victoria is described. This is the first time an ovoviviparous onychophoran has been recorded from Victoria. Six new Ooperipatus Dendy, 1900 from south-eastern New South Wales and Victoria are described: O. birrgus, sp. nov.; O. caesius, sp. nov.; O. lepidus, sp. nov.; O. nebulosus, sp. nov.; O. porcatus, sp. nov.; and O. silvanus, sp. nov.; - more than doubling the number of nominal species in the genus. A table of diagnostic characters for all Ooperipatus is provided to assist with species identification.