Skip to main content

Story: Peripatus

New Zealand peripatus species

Image
New Zealand peripatus species

Ooperipatellus viridimaculatus is one of five described species of peripatus (listed in the table) found in New Zealand. It is dark grey with orange specks and has a double row of green spots along its back. Some researchers believe there may be up to 30 types of peripatus in New Zealand, and DNA research is likely to lead to new species being described.

Using this item

Landcare Research – Manaaki Whenua

© Copyright image. All rights reserved. Permission from Manaaki Whenua: Landcare Research New Zealand Limited must be obtained before the re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Paddy Ryan, Peripatus – Walking worms, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/diagram/13244/new-zealand-peripatus-species (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Paddy Ryan, published 1 March 2009.