FIGURE NO. 8 



PERIPATUS: AN ARCHAIC TYPE 



The species of Peripatus and allied genera form a 

 class (Onychophora) of somewhat caterpillar-like ani- 

 mals, linking segmented worms or Annelids to the 

 insect alliance. They are annectent or synthetic types. 

 Thus Peripatus has air-tubes or tracheae and likewise 

 kidney-tubes or nephridia. No other type has both 

 tracheae and nephridia. In several other characters the 

 Onychophora are insect-like; in an equal number of 

 characters they are worm-like. They may not be in the 

 direct lineage between Annelids and Tracheate Arthro- 

 pods, but the point is that they are connecting links. 

 They are shy, nocturnal creatures, frequenting damp 

 places under leaves and among rotting wood. They 

 feed on insects which they catch by squirting out jets 

 of slime. They are viviparous. 



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