The Hatching of a Peripatus Egg

Abstract

In NATURE, vol. xliv, p. 468, I briefly described some eggs of the larger Victorian Peripatus, which were laid by specimens kept alive by me in the winter (Australian) of 1891. At that time, following previous authority, I identified the species which laid the eggs as P. leuckartii. It appears now, however, that the real P. leuckartii—at any rate, in New South Wales—is undoubtedly viviparous, and our oviparous Victorian species is, therefore, probably distinct. (It may be remembered that in NATURE, vol. xxxix. p. 366, I suggested this probable distinction on account of the remarkable pattern of the skin usually exhibited by the fifteen-legged Victorian form.) Further particulars on this subject are given in my “Further Notes on the oviparity of the larger Victorian Peripatus, generally known as P. leuckartii,”¹ and in the literature cited therein. In that paper I described two embryos, removed from eggs which had been laid for about three and eight months respectively. In the latter case I showed that the embryo was possessed of the full number of appendages, and was in all respects a perfect young Peripatus, differing externally from the adult only in the smaller size and less deeply pigmented skin. On the strength of these observations I claimed to have definitely proved that the larger Victorian Peripatus at any rate sometimes lays eggs, and that these eggs are capable of undergoing development outside the body until perfect young animals are produced. I am now able to add some further information.