Masters student at Macquarie University, working on the taxonomy of the Onychophora

Advice for Onychophora

1. A ventral image is helpful for ID, and usually neccessary for determining sex.
2. Peripatus (genus) ≠ peripatus (phylum). If outside Central America, it is definitely not the former.
3. Use the global distribution map to ID to family. You can help resolve community IDs stuck above family.
4. For narrower ID Oliveira et al. (2012) is a good starting point, but use with caution, considering narrow-range endemism and undescribed cryptic species.

Notable contributions

• Accessioned in Australian Museum: Charopidae sp., C. tomahmontis, E. leuckartii
• Accessioned in National Herbarium of New South Wales: H. annuus
• Accessioned in National Herbarium of Victoria: Badhamia sp., Buchwaldoboletus sp., G. triplex
• Geographic & host range expanded: IIV-31 (Douch and Poupa 2021)
• Molecular ID: Ooperipatellus sp. nov. (Douch et al., unpub.), Sarcodon sp. nov. (Douch et al., unpub.)
• Nesting cavity / drinking hollow measured by Mulvaney M.: C. fimbriatum
• Prompted eradication: J. vulgaris
• Sent to @f_martoni: Agelaeopsylla sp., Phellopsylla sp., Pr. sterculiae

I will be leading the microscopy component of the Port Macquarie marine bioblitz.

Personal shortcuts

• Patrol: Onychophora / Australia / maverick / casual
• Radii: Sydney / Melbourne

Favorite Taxa

View All