CHAPTER VI 



PHYLUM ARTHROPODA, CLASSES ONYCO- 

 PHORA, MYRIAPODA, INSECTA 



CLASS 2. ONYCOPHORA 



The sole representatives of this class of arthropods are 

 the sixty-odd species of the genus Peripatus. Peripati 

 occur only in certain parts of the world Northern Africa, 

 Northern South America, Mexico, and some of the South 

 Pacific islands. These peculiar worm-like animals live in 

 rotten logs, in crevices in rocks, among fallen leaves, and 



FIG. 33. Peripatus entangling a cockroach in sticky threads squirted from two 

 papillae beneath its head. 



in similar situations. Their food consists of small insects, 

 spiders, etc. They entangle their prey in little sticky 

 threads which are ejected from glands on two papillae 

 beneath the head (Fig. 33). 



The body of Peripatus is cylindrical and worm-like. It 

 has from seventeen to forty pairs of small legs, a pair of 

 jointed antennae, and an eye just beneath each antenna. 

 A single pair of appendages have been modified to serve 

 as mouth parts these act as jaws and tear the food to 

 pieces. Most species of Peripatus bring forth the young 

 alive. There is no metamorphosis the young resembling 

 the parents in their general structure. 



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