Bibliography 

Baehr, M. 1977. Über einige Onychophoren aus Australien und Tasmanien mit Beschreibung einer neuen Art und Anmerkungen zur Stellung von Ooperipatus paradoxus Bouvier 1915. Zoologische Jahrbücher, Abteilung für Systematik, Ökologie und Geographie der Tiere 104: 9-19.

Descriptions of Ooperipatus decoratus sp. nov. and O. spenceri Cockerell, 1913 ('=O. insignis (SPENCER, 1894)'), both from Dip River Falls. 

Barrett, C. 1938. A note on peripatus. Victorian Naturalist 55(1): 11-12.

Description and photos of a Tasmanipatus barretti (here called 'Ooperipatus insignis') from St Marys. The fate of the specimen is unknown. 

Bonham, K.J., Mesibov, R. and Bashford, R. 2002. Diversity and abundance of ground-dwelling invertebrates in plantation vs. native forests in Tasmania, Australia. Forest Ecology and Management 158: 237-247.

Ooperipatellus cryptus and Ooperipatellus sp. (probably O. decoratus) found in nearly equal numbers in plantations and nearby native forest after searching 0.01 ha plots for 1 hour. 

Brockmann, C. 1994. Zur Eidonomie, Anatomie und Entwicklungsbiologie von Ooperipatellus decoratus (Baehr, 1977) (Peripatopsidae, Onychophora) . (Unpublished Diploma thesis, Biology Department, University of Hamburg, October 1994; 102 pp.)

Thesis based on material collected near the Fingerpost (east of Waratah). Beautifully illustrated, includes coloured drawings of dorsal pattern variation. 

Brockmann, C., Mesibov, R. and Ruhberg, H. 1999. Observations on Ooperipatellus decoratus, an oviparous onychophoran from Tasmania (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae). Entomologica Scandinavica, Supplement 51: 319-329.

Based in part on Brockmann (1994). Anatomy and development of O. decoratus from the Fingerpost area, east of Waratah. 

Brockmann, C., Mummert, M., Ruhberg, H. and Storch, V. 2001. The female genital system of Ooperipatellus decoratus (Onychophora, Peripatopsidae). Journal of Morphology 249(2): 77-88.

Detailed anatomical study. The cover of this issue of the Journal of Morphology features a colour photo of a live O. decoratus, taken by Claudia Brockmann on 12 October 1996 near Deep Gully Creek on the Murchison Highway. 

Bryant, S. and Jackson, J. 1999. Tasmania's Threatened Fauna Handbook: What, Where and How to Protect Tasmania's Threatened Animals. Hobart: Threatened Species Unit, Parks and Wildlife Service; 426 pp.

Pp. 298-301 offer general ecological notes on Ooperipatellus cryptus, Tasmanipatus anophthalmus and T. barretti, together with recommendations for habitat management. 

Coy, R., Greenslade, P. and Rounsevell, D. 1993. A Survey of Invertebrates in Tasmanian Rainforest. Tasmanian NRCP Report No. 9. Hobart: Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania, and Department of Arts, Sport, the Environment and Territories, Canberra; 104 pp.

'A group characteristically associated with logs so again few specimens were collected by the methods used in this study. Four specimens were collected from moss, including the bryophytes on tree trunks.'(p. 39) Specimens from the Savage River Pipeline Road, Mt Michael, Frodshams Pass and Tasman Peninsula sites in this survey. 

Eberhard, S. and Eberhard, R. 1989. Caves on Tasmania's East Coast: the Gray - Mt Elephant karst area. Speleo Spiel [Tasmanian Caverneering Club newsletter, March 1989] No. 246: 11-15.

Mt Elephant area cave notes and report of a failed search for cave-dwelling Tasmanipatus anophthalmus ('blind, white peripatus'). 

Eberhard, S.M., Richardson, A.M.M. and Swain, R. 1991. The Invertebrate Cave Fauna of Tasmania. Hobart: Zoology Department, University of Tasmania; 174 pp.

'Ooperipatellus insignis is sometimes recorded from caves, where it may wander into the dark zone from surrounding forest habitats. To date it is known from caves at Acheron River (AR-x2) and Bubs Hill (BH203).'(p. 17) 

Fletcher, J.J. 1890. Additional notes on Peripatus leuckarti. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 5: 469-486.

'I also take occasion to record the occurrence of this species in Tasmania, Mr. Masters in looking through the invertebrates in the Macleay Museum having recently found a rather bleached specimen with fifteen pairs of walking legs which must have been in the collection for at least ten years.' (p. 469) This specimen has since been lost (Ruhberg & Mesibov 1996: 140). 

Flynn, T. 1918. The distribution of Anaspides and Ooperipatus in Tasmania. Australian Zoologist 1(5): 102.

'Ooperipatus' found near Great Lake in 1914 and 'the bank of Cascade Creek, in the neighbourhood of Hobart' in 1916. 

Fox, J.C., Mesibov, R., McCarthy, M.A. and Burgman, M.A. 2004. Giant Velvet Worm (Tasmanipatus barretti) in Tasmania, Australia. Pp. 150-161 in Akçakaya, H.R., Burgman, M.A., Kindvall, O., Wood, C.C., Sjögren-Gulve, P., Hatfield, J.S. and McCarthy, M.A. (eds), Species Conservation and Management. Case Studies. New York: Oxford University Press; 533 pp. + CD-ROM.

Population viability analysis (PVA) under various forest treatment scenarios for the T. barretti range. A pioneering, quantitative, GIS-based study. 

Hickman, V.V. 1963. Some Tasmanian Animals of Ancient Lineage. (Printed text of lecture given 20 March 1963.) Hobart: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery; 15 pp.

General information and a photo of 'Ooperipatus insignis'. 'It is widely distributed throughout the State and is not uncommon on Mt. Wellington.'(p. 7) 

Horner, D.J. 1995. The Ecology of Two Parapatric Species of Tasmanipatus (Onychophora), T. barretti and T. anophthalmus. (Unpublished Honours thesis, Department of Zoology, University of Tasmania, October 1995; 93 pp. + 29 pp. literature review.)

Detailed observations on water loss, pheromones, ecdysis, feeding behaviour and prey preferences of captive Tasmanipatus, plus new information on distribution and microhabitat. Parapatry remains unexplained, but: 'Females of both species were found to respond to odours from the crural gland and the body wall of the males of both species. T. anophthalmus females are attracted to the crural extract and body wall of T. barretti more so than to that of T. anophthalmus.' (Abstract, p. ii) 

Horner, D. 1998. Comparative Study of the Effects of Logging Operations on the GVW Population of GC171A. (Unpublished report to Forestry Tasmania, June 1998; 13 pp.)

Reports a second search for Tasmanipatus barretti in two coupes near Pyengana Saddle (see Mesibov 1995). Velvet worms were found in those parts of coupe GC171A which had been logged and cool-burned three years earlier. 

Jackson, J. and Taylor, R. 1995. Threatened Fauna Manual for Production Forests in Tasmania. Hobart: Forestry Commission.

On p. 167 the authors give a distribution map and a very brief description of the 'North-West Velvet Worm', which they here name Ooperipatellus cryptus. The name cryptus had unwisely been used for this species during discussions about its conservation in 1994, in advance of a formal description. In publishing the name as they did in a widely available book, Jackson and Taylor unwittingly became the authors of the name Ooperipatellus cryptus Jackson and Taylor, 1995. This species has still not been fully described. Although the Threatened Fauna Manual is sometimes cited as Jackson & Taylor (1994), it is likely to have been published in January 1995. 

Luttrell, M. 1988. The White Blind Peripatus Species. A General Research Project. (Unpublished school report, St Patricks College, Launceston, Tasmania, dated September 1988; 33 pp.)

Excellent report by secondary school student Michael Luttrell on the biology and ecology of Tasmanipatus anophthalmus, collected by Michael near Gray and cultured at his home in Riverside. Photographs of specimens and detailed notes on microhabitat, birth of live young, feeding, moulting and general behaviour. Michael and his BVWs appeared on the local ABC-TV news in September 1988. Until David Horner began his Honours thesis work (Horner 1995), Michael's school report was the best source of information on the biology of any Tasmanian velvet worm, and is still worth reading. 

Malcolm, H.E. 1987. Invertebrate fauna of the Franklin River area, Tasmania. Report on the Australian and New Zealand Scientific Exploration Society (ANZSES) expedition 1983. The Tasmanian Naturalist 91: 1-7.

Published version of the finding first reported in Winsor (1983). Species referred to 'Peripatoides leuckarti'. 

Mesibov, R. 1987. Distribution and Conservation Status of Two Undescribed Onychophoran Species in North-East Tasmania. (Unpublished report to the Plomley Foundation; 14 pp.)

Report of distribution mapping of Tasmanipatus anophthalmus and T. barretti, here called the Blind Velvet Worm and the Giant Velvet Worm, respectively, for the first time. First report of BVW/GVW parapatry. 

Mesibov, R. 1988. Tasmanian Onychophora. A Report for the Department of Lands, Parks and Wildlife. (Unpublished; 44 pp.)

Report of new distribution mapping, with a catalog of all known locality records for the Blind Velvet Worm, Giant Velvet Worm, 'Euperipatoides leuckarti' and 'Ooperipatellus insignis'. Specimen photographs. Conservation overview and recommendations for the BVW and GVW. 

Mesibov, R. 1990. Velvet worms: a special case of fauna conservation. Tasforests 2: 53-56.

Article aimed at foresters. Describes velvet worms generally and conservation management for Tasmanipatus spp. ('Blind Velvet Worm', 'Giant Velvet Worm') in particular. 

Mesibov, R. 1991a. Report on Cable-Logging Operations in Progress in the Haley's Creek Wildlife Priority Area. (Unpublished report to Forestry Commission dated 27 February 1991; 6 pp.)

Notes on the coupe Urana 07A within one of the three Wildlife Priority Areas for Tasmanipatus barretti ('Giant Velvet Worm'). Trial clearfelling of 80 ha was in progress at the time of the site visit. Includes several recommendations for logging management and advises that the logged coupe should not be burned. 

Mesibov, R. 1991b. NRCP (Invertebrates) Project J026. Supplementary Report. Distribution and Conservation Status of an Undescribed Onychophoran from Northwest Tasmania. (Unpublished report to Forestry Commission dated 4 December 1991; 13 pp.)

Report of first distribution mapping of Ooperipatellus cryptus ('Ooperipatellus n. sp.'). Known occurrences to this date were all within Circular Head municipality. 

Mesibov, R. 1993a. Species-Level Comparison of Litter Invertebrates from Three Vegetation Types in Northwest Tasmania. Tasmanian NRCP Technical Report No. 13. Forestry Commission, Tasmania, and Department of Environment, Sport and Territories, Canberra; 35 pp.

Includes first report (p. 29) of 'swarming' by Ooperipatellus sp. 

Mesibov, R. 1993b. Contractor's Report: Rare Velvet Worm Project. (Unpublished report to Forestry Commision dated January 1993; 13 pp.)

Fine-scale mapping of Ooperipatellus cryptus ('Ooperipatellus n. sp.') in the Christmas Hills area. The species is shown to tolerate clearfelling, burning and regeneration to native forest. 

Mesibov, R. 1995. Contractor's Report: Giant Velvet Worms and Logging in Eastern Tiers District. (Unpublished report to Forestry Tasmania dated September 1995; 7 pp.)

Report of a search for T. barretti in coupe Urana 07A four years after clearfelling (see Mesibov 1991b) and in two unlogged coupes near Pyengana Saddle. Velvet worms had survived the trial logging in UR07A and microhabitat conditions (in unburned, now-rotting logging slash, protected by a dense shrub and fern layer) were ideal for their continued survival. 

Mesibov, R. 1996. Contractor's Report: Inspection of Urana 07A and Surrounds After the October, 1995 Wildfire. (Unpublished report to Forestry Tasmania dated 2 January 1996; 6 pp.)

A wildfire burned through the logged coupe UR07A shortly after the inspection reported in Mesibov (1995). The fire incinerated the logging slash 'mulch' and rotting logs, apparently eliminating velvet worms. Adjacent standing forest was also burned but ground fuels were sparse, and velvet worms and other litter invertebrates could still be found in surface-charred logs. The report recommends that clearfelling no longer be permitted in velvet worm Wildlife Priority Areas due to the risk of post-logging wildfire. 

Mesibov, R. 1997. The Blind Velvet Worm ( Tasmanipatus anophthalmus Ruhberg et al. 1991): A Background Report for Conservation Planners. (Unpublished report to the Threatened Species Unit dated 15 April 1997; 30 pp.)

Reports almost everything known to 1997 about T. anophthalmus; includes a history of searches. 

Mesibov, R. 1998a. Curious, yes, but not all that rare. Invertebrata [Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery newsletter, July 1998] 11: 6.

Popular article on Tasmanian velvet worms, mainly on oviparous forms. Includes then-current distribution map of the latter. 

Mesibov, R. 1998b. Velvet Worms in Plantations. (Unpublished report to Forestry Tasmania dated 9 October 1998; 5 pp.)

Documents successful searches for Ooperipatellus cryptus in 15-year-old Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus nitens plantations near the Dial Range, and for Ooperipatellus sp. in P. radiata and E. globulus plantations near Burnie and Wynyard. Aerial photographs of the Dial Range-area sites show that the plantations had been established on cleared land, suggesting that O. cryptus can invade new, artificial forest from small fragments of remnant native vegetation along flowlines. 

Mesibov, R. 2001a. The curious case of the phantom peripatus. Invertebrata [Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery newsletter, March 2001] 19: 8-9.

Involvement of Ooperipatellus cryptus in the purchase by the State government of a large private block in NW Tasmania. 

Mesibov, R. 2001b. Giant Velvet Worms (Tasmanipatus barretti) and plantations. (Unpublished report to the project Linking landscape ecology and management to population viability analysis, University of Melbourne; dated 4 August 2001; 5 pp.)

In recent deliberate searches, T. barretti was readily found in native forest adjoining plantations but not in the plantations, despite the presence of 'legacy' eucalypt logs in the latter. 

Mesibov, R. and Ruhberg, H. 1991. Ecology and conservation of Tasmanipatus barretti and T. anophthalmus, parapatric onychophorans (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae) from northeastern Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 125: 11-16.

Apparently the first published report of parapatry in velvet worms. 

Mesibov, R., Bonham, K.J., Doran, N., Meggs, J., Munks, S., Otley, H. and Richards, K. 2002. Single-species sampling in Tasmania: an inefficient approach to invertebrate conservation? Invertebrate Systematics 16: 655-663.

Includes information on Ooperipatellus cryptus, Tasmanipatus anophthalmus and T. barretti, showing how targeted searches increased knowledge of range size. 

Reid, A. 1996. Review of the Peripatopsidae (Onychophora) in Australia, with comments on peripatopsid relationships. Invertebrate Taxonomy 10(4): 663-936.

Includes redescriptions of Tasmanipatus anophthalmus (here misspelled 'anopthalmus') and T. barretti. Also includes descriptions of two western ovoviviparous forms under the names 'Tasmania' sp. 1 (Southwest) and 'Tasmania' sp. 2 (West Coast). Reid redescribes the genus Ooperipatellus but does not include Tasmanian species in this monograph. 

Rowell, D.M. and Higgins, A.V., and Briscoe, D.A. and Tait, N.N. 1995. The use of chromosomal data in the systematics of viviparous onychophorans from Australia (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 114: 139-153.

Includes the karyology of western Tasmanian ovoviviparous forms (unnamed). 2n = 18, and the chromosome patterns support the allozyme-based distinction of a West Coast species and a Southwest species (Smith & Gilfedder 1993). 

Ruhberg, H. 1985. Die Peripatopsidae (Onychophora). Systematik, Ökologie, Chorologie und phylogenetische Aspekte. Zoologica (Stuttgart) 137: 1-183.

Erects Euperipatoides gen. nov. and Ooperipatellus gen. nov. Ovoviviparous Tasmanian specimens (West Coast) assigned to E. leuckarti (Saenger, 1869). All oviparous Tasmanian forms (including Ooperipatus decoratus Baehr, 1977) assigned to Ooperipatellus insignis (Dendy, 1890). 

Ruhberg, H. and Mesibov, R. 1996. Some observations on the onychophoran fauna of Tasmania. In Geoffroy, J.-J., Mauries, J.-P., and Nguyen Duy-Jacquemin, M. (eds.), Acta Myriapodologica. Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 169: 139-150.

General overview of then-current knowledge. 

Ruhberg, H., Mesibov, R., Briscoe, D.A. and Tait, N.N. 1991. Tasmanipatus barretti gen. nov., sp. nov. and T. anophthalmus sp. nov.: two new and unusual onychophorans (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae) from northeastern Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 125: 7-10.

Formally describes the two Tasmanipatus species. 

Ruhberg, H., Tiemann, H., Mette, A. and Rhode, B. 2001. Evolutionäre Aspekte der Augen-Rückbildung beim hemiedaphischen Onychophoren Tasmanipatus anophthalmus Ruhberg et al., 1991 (Peripatopsidae). Mitteilungen aus dem Hamburgischen Zoologischen Museum und Institut 98: 31-50.

Anatomical and ultrastructural study of eyes in T. anophthalmus and T. barretti. The former species has no external eye, but the authors demonstrate the presence of a degenerate 'inner eye' beneath the integument at the antennal base in this 'blind' velvet worm. 

Savage River Caving Club Inc. 1996. The Caves and Karst of Mt Cripps. Burnie: Savage River Caving Club Inc.; 117 pp.

Velvet worms (Ooperipatellus spp.) have been seen in five Mt Cripps caves and are regarded as visitors rather than obligate cave inhabitants (see p. 108). 

Smith, S.J. and Gilfedder, L. ('with contributions from P.B. Brown, S.J. Bryant, M.N. Hutchinson, P.R. Last, P.B. McQuillan, N. Mooney, W.F. Ponder, R. Swain, N.N. Tait and D.A. Briscoe, J.P. Whinam and L.E. Wall'). 1993. Threatened, rare and localised plants and animals - an overview. Pp. 129-143 in Smith, S.J. and Banks, M.R. (eds.), Tasmanian Wilderness - World Heritage Values. Hobart: Royal Society of Tasmania; 196 pp [October 1993].

Pp. 136-138 in this paper offer results of allozyme electrophoretic analysis of ovoviviparous and oviparous Tasmanian velvet worms collected by Briscoe and Tait in 1987. Western ovoviviparous forms are separated as two (unnamed, undescribed) species not conspecific with New South Wales Euperipatoides leuckarti. Oviparous forms are mapped as seven (unnamed, undescribed) species not conspecific with Victorian Ooperipatellus insignis. 

Spencer, B. 1895. Notes on the presence of Peripatus insignis in Tasmania. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria (n.s.) 7: 31-32.

'Whilst in Tasmania during the summer of 1893 I searched for Peripatus on Mount Wellington, in the Lake St. Clair district, around Dee Bridge and Parattah. Though the localities were apparently favourable ones I only succeeded in finding it at Dee Bridge, where, under fallen logs and within the space of half an acre I found some fifteen specimens.' (p. 31) 

Sunnucks, P. and Tait, N. 2001. Tales of the unexpected. Nature Australia 27(1): 60-69.

Popular article on reproductive biology and genetics of NSW velvet worms. Includes beautiful 2-page colour photo of a live 'Tasmania' sp. specimen from southwest Tasmania by Kathie Atkinson. 

Tait, N.N. and Briscoe, D.A. 1987. Report on WHA Directed Research Contract to Dr. N.N. Tait and Dr. D.A. Briscoe: Onychophora in Tasmania. (Unpublished report to the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service dated July 1987; 9 pp.)

Report of a February 1987 around-Tasmania field trip and a preliminary morphological sort of the material. Tentatively assigns 15-legpair, ovoviviparous forms from the west to Euperipatoides leuckarti. Discovery of Tasmanipatus anophthalmus ('Gen. nov. sp. nov.') and first report of T. barretti ('Euperipatoides sp. nov.). Brief descriptions of five forms of Ooperipatellus insignis, one of which ('taxon D') is clearly O. cryptus. 

Tait, N. and Briscoe, D. 1989. Peripatus: up here for thinking? Australian Natural History 22(12): 57-579.

Popular article on Australian velvet worms. Includes photograph of Tasmanipatus anophthalmus ('white peripatus') and brief notes on its discovery and peculiarities. 

Tait, N.N. and Briscoe, D.A. 1990(?). Scientific Report. The Onychophoran Fauna of Tasmania. (Unpublished report to the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service, not dated; 17 pp.)

Follow-up report to Tait & Briscoe (1987). Includes results of allozyme electrophoretic analysis of ovoviviparous material. 

Tait, N.N., Briscoe, D.A. and Rowell, D.M. 1995. Onychophora - ancient and modern radiations. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Paleontologists 18: 21-30.

Includes allozyme electrophoretic analysis of relationships of western Tasmanian ovoviviparous forms (unnamed) with mainland Australian forms. 

Tait, N.N., Stuchbury, R.J. and Briscoe, D.A. 1990. Review of the discovery and identification of Onychophora in Australia. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 112(3): 153-171.

Excellent summary of the early literature and its background, with brief notes on recent work. On p. 166 the authors use the names 'Tasmanipatus barretti n. gen. n.sp.' and 'T. anophthalmus n.sp.' and a citation of Ruhberg et al. (1991), although the latter had not yet been published. 

Taylor, R. 1990. Forest Practices Fauna Manual. Hobart: Forestry Commission; 41 pp [January 1990].

Includes first report of conservation management of Tasmanipatus spp. ('Blind Velvet Worm', 'Giant Velvet Worm') in State forest. Photo of T. barretti. 

Winsor, L. 1983. Onychophorans (Arthropoda: Onychophora) from the Franklin River Area, South Western Tasmania. Report on a Collection Made by the A.N.Z.S.E.S. Expedition, 1983. (Unpublished typescript dated October 1983; 4 pp.)

First report and brief description of ovoviviparous velvet worms from western Tasmania with 15 pairs of legs, here identified as Peripatoides leuckarti.