C. T. Brues.
Varietal Forms of Peripatus in Haiti.
Psyche 42:58-62, 1935.

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Psyche
[March
VARIETAL FORMS OF PERIPATUS IN HAITI.
BY CHARLES T. BRUES
Biological Laboratories, Harvard University During the past year Dr. P. J. Darlington of the Museum of Comparative Zoology spent some time in the Republic of Haiti where he obtained extensive collections of insects and other arthropods. Among this material are four lots of Onychophora taken at separated localities, including alto- gether 23 specimens. Previous to this there seem to have been discovered in Haiti only two specimens of Onycho- phora. These were contained in collections made by Dr. William M. Mann in 1912 and were dealt with by the writer in a previous paper.l
On account of striking differences in color and in the form of the integumentary papillae, I considered Mann's specimens to represent two species, one of these I regarded as a subspecies of P. dominim Pollard of which the typical form inhabits the Island of Dominica while two other va- rieties occur on Antigua and Porto Rico respectively. The other form was named P. mni after its discoverer. A close examination of the material obtained by Dr. Dar- lington discloses the fact that there are other forms of Peripatus in Haiti which appear to be clearly distinguish- able from one another and furthermore that these appear to occupy separated regions or different ecological situa- tions. I find also that he has rediscovered the two forms taken by Mann in the vicinity of the type locality near Furcy.
In order to present more clearly the differential charac- ters of these several very similar forms, the following table has been constructed. It will bse seen that the characters used are quite probably of different value, at least in our present state of knowledge. The form and arrangement of Preliminary Descriptions of two new Forms of Peripatus from Haiti. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Harvard, vol. 54, pp. 519-5.21 (1913). Pu&e 4258-62 (1935). hup Ytpsychu einclub org/42/42-058 html



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19351 Peripatus in Haiti 59
the papillae are subject to some individual variation, but on the whole seem to be reasonably constant. Variations in the form and attachment of the nephridial tubercles are also subject to but slight variation. On the other hand, such characters as the dentition of the mandibles and the number of leg-bearing segments are subject to sufficient variation to render them of lesser importance in the absence of other more distinctive characters. Nevertheless it seems that the characters used in the table are sufficient to indi- cate clearly that the several forms are racially distinct. This conclusion is borne out by very striking differences in the insect fauna of the several areas which have been observed by Dr. Darlington. Thle three moist mountain ranges from which the Peripatus come are separated by low, dry, highly xerophytic areas into which such animals are utterly unable to penetrat~e, and it is certain that no migration has occurred since such conditions became es- tablished. The failure of certain genera of flightless Cara- bid= to bridge these gaps is clear evidence that these moun- tains are actually isolated after the fashion of true islands. In this respect Haiti is quite different from the other West Indian Islands on which Peripatus is known; to occur since it affords clearly isolated mountain ranges. So far none have been discovered in Cuba, but two very distinct types are known from Jamaica, both inhabiting the extensive and continuous Blue Mountain Region in the eastern part of the Island. These appear to be very local in occurrence, and commonly associated at the same places. One, P. juli- formis, var. swmhsonse Ckll. is a true Peripatus, but the sec- ond which occurs with it is a modified type now relegated to the genus Plicatoperipatus. The occurrence of Onychophora in Jamaica is, however, sa! far as known, restricted to the Blue Mountains as none have been discovered in other parts of thle island.
I have hesitated to propose any new taxonomic names, but as the material seems to justify some recognition of the five more or less readily distinguishable forms known from Haiti, those not already named are regarded as varietal forms. In general body color all are essentially similar, very dark in life, but after preservation in alcohol showing



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60 Psyche
[March
a very dark, beaded dorsal stripe the enlargements of which correspond to the body segments. Just lateral to the stripe is a narrow pale border which serves to render it quite conspicuous, especially in some specimens. The nephridial tubercles are practically of the same conformation in all of the forms. They are attached slightly or free from the third band which is emarginate and the fourth band is bent, but scarcely emarginate next to the tubercle. Key to the Forms of Peripatus known from Haiti Some of the primary papillae on the integumentary folds clearly much larger than the remainder and arranged in such a way that one or several smaller ones are reg- .................
ularly interpolated between two large ones 2.
Primary papillae variable in size but not showing a defi- nite arrangement on the folds with regard to size, i. e., the largest papillae are not regularly spaced with refer- ence to intervening smaller ones; very few or almost no accessory papillae. ..................................................... .4. 2. A numbjer of accessory papillae present along the sides of the body folds.. ......................................................... .3. Accessory papillae very few in number, almost absent; 30-33 pairs of legs in the female; blade of mandible with 14 teeth ........ Peripatus dominicse Pollard, var. lachauxensis, var. nov.
3. A bright orange spot at each side of the head (sometimes white in specimens that have been bleached by pres- ervation in alcohol) ; mandible with 11-12 teeth; 30-31 pairs of legs in the female ..... ..Peripatus m<mni Brues. No pale markings of this kind present; body uniformly dark above, except for thle shaded, dorsal pattern; blade of mandible with 8-10 teeth; 30-32 pairs of legs in the female ..... Peripatus dominicse Pollard, var. haitiensis Brues.
.....
4. 28 pairs of legs in the female ; mandible with 11 teeth Peripatus dominicse Pollard, var. basilensis, var. nov. 33-34 pairs of legs in the female; mandible with 9 teeth. Peripatus dominicse Pollard, var. darlingtoni, var. nov.



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19351 Peripatzcs in Haiti 61
Peripatus manni Brues.
Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 54, p. 520 (1913). Six females and one male from near La Vesite, La Selle Plateau, Haiti (5,000-7,000 ft.) , September 16-23, 1934 (P. J. Darlington). These are practically from the type locality which is near Furcy that lies just to the north of Vesite, and they were taken at practically the same alti- tude. The females have from 30-31 pairs of legs, two with the former and three with the latter number. Thle single male has 29 pairs.
The conspicuous pale spot at the side
of the head is present in both sexes.
Peripatus dominicae Pollard, var. haitiensis Brues. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 54, p. 519 (1913). Of this form Dr. Darlington secured eight females and two males at the same place as the previous species, which .
is again practically the type locality.
The occurrence of
the two thus together suggests of course that they may be only color forms of one another although no such condi- tion has been found to prevail elsewhere in the group which now includes about one hundred species. Among the Ameri- can forms only Peripatus torquatus has a color pattern sim- ilar to that of P. rnannc in this case the spots are almost united to form a transverse yellow band behind the head, and appear to be a constant specific character. Morpholo- gical differences are slight, as indicated in the key, and the general arrangement of the of the integumentary papillae is much the same although there are fewer accessory pap- ill= in haitiensis.
Peripatus dominicae Pollard, var. lachauxensis, var. nov. This form is represented by two specimens from Etang Lachaux, taken October 27, 1934 by Dr. Darlington at an altitude of less than 1,000 ft. This locality is in the south- eastern foot-hills of the Massif de la Hotte in the southeast- ern peninsula of Haiti. It is much nearer to sea-level than any of the others and is consequently much drier. As indicated in the key this variety differs from the preceding forms by the almost complete absence of accessory papilllse



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62 Psyche [ March
on the body folds and an unusually large number of small teeth on the blade of the mandible.
This is based on a single female from Mount Basil in northern Haiti taken at an altitude of about 4,000 feet on September 9, 1934 by Dr. Darlington.
Peripatus dominicae Pollard, var. basilensis, var. nov. This specimen has only 28 pairs of legs and a single large embryo which we have been able to remove by dissec- tion shows the same number. The sex of the embryo can- not be determined and may of course be male, but the female shows that this form has an unusually small number of legs. As indicated in the key this variety is distinguishable from the preceding forms by the arrangement of the prim- ary integumentary papillae.
Peripatus dominicae Pollard, var. darlingtoni, var. nov. This is representled by two females and one male from Massif de la Hotte in the southwestern peninsula of Haiti taken between Camp Perrion and Mafin at an elevation of about 3,000 feet. The locality is near that where the variety Zachauxensis was taken, but at a higher altitude and conse- quently in the moist rain forest belt. It differs from that form by the arrangement of the primary papillae as set forth in the preceding key and from the variety basilensis which it resembles more closely by the greater number of legs in the female.




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