Redescription of Epiperipatus edwardsii , and descriptions of five new species of Epiperipatus from Brazil ( Onychophora : Peripatidae )

Epiperipatus edwardsii (Blanchard, 1847) is redescribed based on fresh material collected near the type locality. Additionally, five new species of velvet worms of the genus Epiperipatus Clark, 1913 from Brazil are described: Epiperipatus hyperbolicus sp. nov., Epiperipatus lucerna sp. nov., Epiperipatus titanicus sp. nov. (Holotypes deposited in MNRJ: Murici, Alagoas State), Epiperipatus beckeri sp. nov. (Holotype female deposited in MNRJ: Camacan, Bahia State) and Epiperipatus marajoara sp. nov. (Holotype male deposited in MZUSP: Breves, Marajó island, Pará State). The peculiar shape of the primary papillae (artichoke-like) of E. titanicus sp. nov. and E. beckeri sp. nov. is documented for the first time. Epiperipatus titanicus sp. nov. has the largest number of pairs of oncopods (38 for males and 39 for females) among the Brazilian Onychophora. We also provide an identification key for Brazilian species of Epiperipatus.

Neopatida is the largest group of Peripatidae from the Neotropics.This taxonomically obscure group comprises the widespread genus Macroperipatus Clark, 1913, type species Peripatus torquatus von Kennel, 1883, from Trinidad, and Epiperipatus, type species Peripatus edwardsii Blanchard, 1847, from French Guiana.Those genera were included in a phylogenetic analyses of Costa (2016) and Giribet et al. (2018).Although phylogenetic studies on onychophorans have been seldom conducted including Brazilian species, the number of species described in Epiperipatus has increased considerably in the past few years.Brito et al. (2010) described Epiperipatus cratensis Brito et al., 2010from Crato, Ceará State, Northeast Brazil. Oliveira et al. (2011) described three cryptic species of Epiperipatus, i.e., E. diadenoproctus Oliveira et al., 2011, E. adenocryptus Oliveira et al., 2011and E. paurognostus Oliveira et al., 2011, from the Minas Gerais State, Southeast Brazil, using a molecular and morphological approach to delimit the new species.Oliveira et al. (2010) revised the taxonomic status of two species combined with Macroperipatus, M. acacioi (Marcus & Marcus, 1955) and M. machadoi Oliveira & Wieloch, 2005, and examined some characters of the integument and the crural tubercles, concluding that the two species are better combined with Epiperipatus.Recently, Chagas-Jr and Costa (2014) also revised a species of Macroperipatus, M. ohausi (Bouvier, 1900), and concluded that it equally belongs to Epiperipatus, not to Macroperipatus.Therefore, fourteen species of Epiperipatus are currently known to occur in Brazil.
Epiperipatus edwardsii is widespread in the Neotropics, distributed on a large area from Panama, Trininad & Tobago, Venezuela, French Guiana, Suriname, Colombia and Brazil (Read 1988b, Sampaio-Costa et al. 2009, Oliveira et al. 2012a).This contrasts with the narrow distribution of other species of onychophorans restricted to less than 100 km 2 (Marcus andMarcus 1955, Peck 1975).Blanchard (1847) described E. edwardsii based only on the number of oncopods (30 pairs).Bouvier (1905) proposed an emended description, adding, for instance, the diamond-shape pattern on the dorsal body, two incomplete folds, and base of primary papillae roundish, contiguous with dorsal papillae.These characters are shared by several species of Epiperipatus, which makes it impossible to identify any particular species using them.
Based on findings of Costa (2016), in this paper we analyzed a specimen of E. edwardsii from the Nouragues Field Station, French Guyana, a few kilometers from the species type locality, in Cayenne.We redescribe E. edwardsii and provide images documenting the dorsal color and the scale ranks of the primary papillae.Additionally, we describe five new species in Epiperipatus, all from Brazil.Two new species, Epiperipatus titanicus sp.nov.and E. beckeri sp.nov., have symmetrical apical piece with one scale rank, a feature that had not been observed before in Peripatidae.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
In total, we examined 65 specimens collected between 2008 and 2014.The material examined is deposited in the following institutions: Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (MNRJ); Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (MZUSP); Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (UFMG); Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom (NHM); Collection of the Evolution et Diversité Biologique laboratory at Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France (GF).Live specimens were photographed (mainly for color and body patterns) with SONY Cybershot DSC-HX1 with built-in flash, or Canon EOS Rebel XS with macrolens and flash circular cameras.The color of live specimens was described following the standard names of the 267 Color Centroids of NBS/ISCC Color System (Mundie 1995).Respective code numbers are given between parentheses following the color name.
We obtained the stacked images using a Leica MZ125 Stereomicroscope with built-in Leica DFC 290 camera, Leica Light source CLS100X series 00373 and assembled through of software Leica Application Suite version 3.3.0.We compiled descriptions, and dissection of dead specimens using a stereomicroscope.The morphological descriptive nomenclature follows the terminologies of Read (1988a), Morera-Brenes and Monge-Nájera (2010) and Oliveira et al. (2010).Dorsal integument, jaws, legs and some antennae were photographed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).All tissues were cleaned, subjected to critical point and sputter coating.In the cleaning process, the soft parts were washed in a solution of hypochlorite 3% diluted in distilled water.The hard parts (for example jaws) were cleaned in distilled water and Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (or EDTA) heat solution in sonicator processor.For critical point, the tissues were dehydrated using an increasing ethanol series: 30%, 50%, 70%, 80%, 90% and 100%.
These tissues were critical point dried and mounted in SEM stubs with biadhesive carbon tape, in the critical point machines Baltec CPD 030.The sputter coating was completed using the machines Denton Desk IV gold sputter model and Balzer SCD 50 sputter coater.Generally, on average, 5 to 10 nm of gold/paladium or platinum/palladium were deposited over the tissues.We took SEM images using microscopes JEOL JSM-6390LV and DSM 940 Zeiss scanning electron.The Backscatter electron detector (BSD) function, when available on the microscope, was used to avoid the charging effects on the tissues.
The descriptions of new species are based on type series instead of just in the holotype (compound description).A full description is only provided for the first described species, E. titanicus, subsequent descriptions are comparative and complementary to that of E. titanicus.
Diagnosis.Dorsal papillae with roundish insertion.Bases of primary papillae with four to eighteen scale ranks.Apical pieces are conical, cylindrical, or rarely flat.Usually four complete and sometimes, rarely vestiges of a fifth spinous pad on the fourth and fifth legs.Nephridial tubercle on fourth and fifth pairs of legs, between third and fourth spinous pads.One to tree pregenital legs with crural papillae (male only).
Epiperipatus edwardsii (Blanchard, 1847)  Diagnosis.The background color of the body of this species is in the purple spectrum; dorsal papillae round, primary papillae bearing asymmetrical apical piece, four complete spinous pads on the fourth and fifth legs (the last broken in some specimens).
Redescription.Measurements (mm): Type: length 35.0; width 4.0; height 3.0 (based on Bouvier 1905).Additional specimen (hereafter): length 30.0, width 3.0, height 3.0.Color (living specimen).Background color of body dark purplish gray (234), dorsal surface dark grayish reddish brown (47) with purplish gray (233) diamonds overlapping light brownish gray (63) dorsomedian furrow (Fig. 2).Background color of ventral body purplish gray (233) with light gray and yellowish-brown (79) median band.Legs white (263) and ventral organs pale pink (7).Description of body.Conspicuous dorsomedial furrow and hyaline organs on entire length of body.Twelve plicae per segment, two incomplete (not extending to insertion of legs), and seven crossing over to ventral side.Uniform width among to the dorsal plicae as mentioned by Bouvier (1905).Dorsal papillae on all plicae (Fig. 1).Primary papillae as the largest dorsal papillae, with roundish dome insertion and asymmetrical spherical apical piece (Figs 1, 4).Basal piece larger than apical piece, with a range of at least seven scale ranks.Apical piece with three posterior scale ranks (Fig. 4).Bristle directed posteriorly (Fig. 4).Accessory papillae usually the smallest, but some as large as the basal piece of a primary papilla (Fig. 1).Accessory papillae with roundish insertion.Accessory papillae more abundant than primary papillae per plica (Fig. 1).Frequently, primary papillae separated by one to four accessory papillae.Dorsal papillae always on the plicae, although only and rarely accessory papillae present on flanks.
Head.No evident structures or color patterns on head.Antennae with 44 rings: antennal tip composed of seven broad rings, excluding the terminal disc on top.Antennal body with alternating sequence of narrow and broad rings at least up to the eighteenth.Eyes and frontal organs present on ventrolateral region of antennal base.Frontal organs as long as four fused antennal papillae.Mouth opening surrounded by small, anterior, unique lobe, and seven flanked lobes decreasing in size from anterior to posterior ends of the mouth.Dental formula of inner and outer jaws, respectively: 1/1 and 1/1/10, with second accessory tooth of inner jaw vestigial (Fig. 5).
Legs.Male with 30 pairs of legs.Ventrally, fourth and fifth pairs of legs with four complete spinous pads (the fourth are sometimes broken) without vestige of fifth spinous pad (Fig. 6).Nephridial tubercle on fourth and fifth pairs of legs, between third and fourth spinous pads, and connected at tip with third spinous pad (Fig. 6).Two pro-lateral and one retro-lateral foot papillae the feet of fourth and fifth legs (Fig. 3).Conspicuous ventral and preventral organs, gonopore close to penultimate pairs of legs in both sexes.
Sexual dimorphism.Male pregenital leg without crural papillae (these organs had not been previously described for this species).Anal glands inconspicuous (male); represented by two pores on ventral portion of anal aperture.
Material examined.1♂, French Guiana, Cayenne, Nouragues Field Station, no further data (GF180312HC003-06).The holotype, deposited at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France (MNHN), was not examined because the curator did not reply to our loan requests.
Remarks.The type of Epiperipatus edwardsii, deposited at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France (MNHN) was not examined.We tried to contact the curator to arrange a loan of this material, but the curator did not reply.Epiperipatus edwardsii is the most frequently misidentified species of Epiperipatus and for this reason some records of its distribution (e.g., Brues 1914, Clark 1914, Peck 1975, Sampaio-Costa et al. 2009) are not accepted here.The shape and distribution of the dorsal papillae, dorsal diamond pattern and number of legs are frequently misinterpreted.
According to our observations, the diamond patterns are a general feature in most species of Epiperipatus.Morphologically, the diagnostic features to delimit E. edwardsii are (1) dorsal papillae over the plicae and never on the folds, and (2) primary papillae usually separated by one or two accessory papillae (however in some cases they are close to each other).Also, E. edwardsii is supported by molecular data as demonstrated in Maximum Parsimony and Maximum Likelihood analyses (e.g., Costa (2016) and Giribet et al. 2018).
The other records of E. edwardsii found in the literature, for instance from Panama, Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil (Brues 1914, Clark and Zetek 1946, Read 1988a, b, Sampaio-Costa et al. 2009, see discussion below) are probably based on undescribed species.Moreover, records of E. edwardsii from Aripo in Trinidad (Read 1988a) and Haut Sarare, Venezuela (Read 1988b) also correspond to an undescribed species.In conclusion, the distribution of E. edwardsii is likely limited to French Guyana.
Diagnosis.Epiperipatus species with symmetrical, reduced or hidden apical piece.Body large, 29 up to 76 mm and 36 to 39 pairs of legs.
Compound description.Measurements.Males: length 29-41; width 1.0-3.0;height 1.0-2.5.Females: length 16-76; width 1.0-4.0;height 1.0-6.0.Background color of body in vivo is dark grayish red (20), with dorsal wavy band of light grayish red ( 18) and overlaid by diamond-shape marks, the same color as background color of body (Fig. 13).Dorsomedian furrow very dark purplish red (260) (Fig. 13).Anterior portion of head and antennae dark purple (224).Color of dorsal portion of legs the same as predominant dorsal body color.Largest primary papillae pale and distinguishable in vivo from light brown (57) color found on alternate plicae and forming longitudinal sequences on dorsal integument.The number of pale primary papillae increases near the legs.Legs and ventral surface displaying same color, pale pink (7).Description of body.Dorsal papillae aligned on top of folds, two primary papillae separated by one to three accessory papillae and rarely occurring close together.Both dorsal papillae have conical basal pieces, artichoke-like, composed of lanceolate scales that never overlap with one another at base of papillae (Figs 7,14).The primary papillae are the largest and at their bases there are five to ten scale ranks.Apical piece can be reduced and there is just one scale rank (Fig. 7).Rank in some cases overlapped by scale rank of the base papilla, hiding the constriction between the two parts of the primary papillae (Fig. 7. See also Sampaio-Costa et al. 2009: 557, figs 6-8).The apical piece, when evident, is symmetrical and conical with narrow and elongated scales (Fig. 7).Needle-shaped sensory bristle curved or straight, placed at center of apical piece.Accessory papillae similar to primary papillae with respect to shape of scale and morphology of the base, but without an apical piece.
Head.Holotype and paratype with 44-45 antennal rings, respectively.In both specimens, antennal tip composed of seven broad rings (excluding the terminal disc on top) and followed by alternating narrow and broad rings until the eighteenth ring.Mouth opening surrounded by anterior oral lobe (unpaired lip) and seven pairs of oral lips.Jaws with two blades composed of one long curved main tooth followed by one accessory tooth (Figs 15,16).Formulae of inner and outer jaw blades: 1/1 and 1/1/7-11 (Figs 15,16), respectively.Legs.Males: 36-38 pairs of legs.Females: 36-39 pairs of legs.Nephridial tubercle on fourth and fifth pairs of legs, between third and fourth spinous pads (Fig. 17).On fourth and fifth pairs of legs, fifth spinous pad present and always reduced (Fig. 17).
Etymology.The specific name titanicus, titanica, titanicum (L., "titanic", adjective) refers to the large size of the females, and the great number of pairs of oncopods, more numerous than in any other Brazilian species of onychophorans.
Remarks.The number of leg pairs in this species varies from 36 to 39, and these numbers overlap in males and females, 36 to 38 in males and 36 to 39 in females.
Epiperipatus lucerna sp.nov.http://zoobank.org/0CECB928-54B3-4125-BEB4-D9D091E89F1AFigs 9,[18][19][20]37 Diagnosis.Apical piece cylindrical, asymmetric, have of two scale ranks on back side and three on front side; 29 to 30 pairs of legs.Compound description.Measurements.Male: length 13-29; width 1.0-3.0;height 1.0-1.5.Female: length 23-44; width 1.0-3.0;height 2.0-4.0.Color (living specimens).In vivo background color of body on dorsal portion, arrangement of pale primary papillae, and ventral region as described for E. titanicus.Description of body.Dorsal papillae aligned on top of folds, with two primary papillae close together or separated by one to five accessory papillae.Dorsal papillae with conical basal piece, composed of overlapping lanceolate scales.Primary papillae regular in size, at their bases four to eight scale ranks (Fig. 19).Apical piece cylindrical, asymmetrical, composed of two scale ranks on back side and three on front side (Fig. 9).This rank overlapped by scale rank of the base papilla and hiding constriction between the two parts of primary papillae (Figs 9,19).Needle-shaped sensory bristle curved or straight and located on back side of apical piece (Fig. 9).Head.Number of complete antennal rings in holotype 29, alternating between narrow and large rings, from the eighth to the twentieth rings.Paratype with 46 rings and ring widths alternating from the eighth to the eighteenth ring.Antennal tips composed of seven large rings and terminal bud.Number of tooth in jaw blades as in Epiperipatus titanicus sp.nov.as in dental formula: (1/1; 1/1/8).Legs.Males: 27-29 pairs of legs.Females: 29-31 pairs of legs.Nephridial tubercle on fourth and fifth pairs of legs, between third and fourth spinous pads (Fig. 20).No evidence of fifth spinous pad on fourth and fifth pairs of legs.
Sexual dimorphism.One or two pregenital legs with crural papillae (male) with one crural papilla each (structure not identifiable in some adult males examined).Anal glands inconspicuous (male); represented by two pores on anterior board of anal aperture.Distribution (Fig. 37).Only known from the type locality (Brazil, Alagoas State, Murici, Estação Ecológica de Murici).
Etymology.The specific name lucerna (L., "lamp", feminine noun in apposition) refers to the candle shape of the apical piece of the primary papillae of this species.
Epiperipatus hyperbolicus sp.nov.http://zoobank.org/ED926027-E31F-4C19-80CE-321B6B6886CCFigs 11,12,[21][22][23]37 Diagnosis.Dorsal papillae with conical and small basal piece composed of truncated robust scales and primary papillae of regular size with six or seven scale ranks at base and robust and asymmetric spherical apical piece.Legs with 23 to 25 pairs.Compound description.Measurements (based on a single male): length 26, width 2.0 and height 3.0.Females: length 22-33, width 17-2.0 and height 2.0-3.0.Color (living specimens).Background color of dorsal body, arrangement of pale primary papillae, and ventral region as in Epiperipatus titanicus sp.nov.Description of body.Dorsal papillae aligned on top of folds, two primary papillae occurring close together or separated by one to three accessory papillae.Dorsal papillae with conical basal piece, composed of truncated scales (Fig. 21).Primary papillae regular in size with six or seven scale ranks at base and robust and asymmetric spherical apical piece (Figs 11,12).Apical piece composed of overlapped scale ranks, six or seven on front and three on back (Figs 11,12).Constriction between the two portions of primary papillae hidden (Figs 11,12).Needle-shaped sensory bristle curved or straight and dislocated to back side of apical piece.Head.In holotype antennae with 27 rings (28 rings in paratype, some females with 36, 37 and 41 antennal rings).In both holotype and paratype the antennal tips composed of seven broad rings and terminal bud.Antennal tip followed by alternating narrow and broad rings until sixteenth ring.Jaw blades as in Epiperipatus titanicus sp.nov.with dental formula of holotype and paratype as follows: 1/1/7 and 1/1/11 (Fig. 23).Legs.Male holotype: 23 pairs of legs.Females: 24 and 25 pairs of legs.Nephridial tubercle on fourth and fifth pairs of legs, between third and the fourth spinous pads (Fig. 22).Fourth and fifth pairs of legs without evidence of fifth spinous pad (Fig. 22).
Sexual dimorphism.One or two pairs of pregenital legs present (male) with one crural papilla on each.Anal glands inconspicuous (male); represented only by two pores on anterior margin of anal aperture.Distribution (Fig. 37).Only known from the type locality (Brazil, Alagoas State, Murici, Estação Ecológica de Murici).
Etymology.The specific name hyperbolicus, hyperbolica, hyperbolicum (Latinized adjective "exaggerated", from Greek ὑπερβολή, plus suffix -icus) refers to the large spherical shape of the apical piece of the primary papillae of this species.
Compound description.Measurements: length 35-53, width 2.0-4.0,height 4.0.Holotype: length 53, width 4.0, height 2.0.Color (living specimens).Background color of body of the specimen is moderate yellowish pink (29) with a mid-longitudinal pale orange yellow (73) wavy stripe interrupted by well-defined background color cardioid patches (Fig. 24).Dorsomedian furrow thin, dark yellowish pink (30).Anterior portion of head strong yellowish pink (26) gradually turning to light violet (210) in antennae (Fig. 24).Arrangement of pale primary papillae as in Epiperipatus titanicus.Background color of body of juvenile light violet (210).Description of body.Dorsal papillae roundish and close together, rarely varying in the size.Larger, pale, primary papillae present, except in juveniles, marked only by faded aspect.Dorsal papillae aligned on top of folds.When separate there are 2 to 4 accessory papillae between two primary papillae (Fig. 25).Base of primary papillae conical and apical piece symmetrical and reduced, with some exceptions (see comments) (Fig. 10).Seven to twelve scale ranks at base and only one scale rank on apical piece (Fig. 10).Bristle on apical piece narrow and long, sometimes as long as apical piece (Fig. 10).Accessory papillae conical, generally the same size as primary papillae, but without apical piece (Fig. 26).Plicae regular, 12 per segment over legs, seven crossing to ventral side and incomplete plicae shorter than length of dorsal side (Fig. 25).Head.Holotype with 44 rings with seven broad rings on antennal tip and followed by sequence of alternating narrow and broad rings until fourteenth ring.In the other adult female there are 40 rings with the same aspect described for the holotype.Jaws (holotype) dental formula: 1/2 and 1/2/11 (Fig. 27).
Legs.Twenty-eight to thirty (juveniles included).Holotype with 30 pairs of legs.Nephridial tubercles between third and fourth spinous pads, connected by strait isthmus on top with third spinous pad.Two prolateral and one retrolateral foot papillae on feet of fourth and fifth legs.Distribution (Fig. 37).Only known from the type locality (Brazil, Bahia State, Camacan, Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Serra Bonita.).
Etymology.The specific name beckeri (German surname, noun with Latin ending -i of the genitive case) honoring the naturalist and entomologist Vitor O. Becker, who created and is responsible for the administration of Reserva Particular da Serra Bonita, Camacan, Bahia State.
Remarks.The main differences between juveniles and adults are the color and the kind of dorsal papillae they display.A juvenile was photographed in vivo with background color of body very dark purplish red (260), without diamond areas.The other post-fixed juvenile darker than adults, with background color of body dark brown (55), diamond areas brownish orange (54) and legs on dorsal region pale yellow (89).
The regular primary papillae and accessory papillae have similar size in the adult.In the juveniles, the largest pale primary papillae are more diverse on the dorsal plicae.These primary papillae have a spherical everted and robust apical piece, their arrangement forming longitudinal lines similar to the condition found in the holotype.
Diagnosis.This species has dorsal background color of body in the brown spectrum, dorsal diamond pattern inconspicuous or absent, roundish dorsal papillae, primary papillae with well-developed base, and a cylindrical apical piece.
Compound description.Measurements.Females.Length 40, 50 and 65 (specimens from NHM examined by Bouvier in his monograph).Males.Length 27-34, width 2.0-7.0,height 1.0-6.0.The single female is: length 33, width 2.8, height 1.2.Color (living specimens).Background color of body Light Grayish Brown (60) overlaid with brownish pink (33) diamond-shaped makers.Dorsalmedian furrow moderate brown (58), and antennae grayish reddish brown (46) (Figs 28,29).Largest primary papillae pale and distinguishable in vivo by the light brown (57) color.Found on alternate plicae and forming longitudinal sequences on dorsal integument.Dorsal side of legs same color as dorsal background color of body.Color uniform on ventral surface, grayish yellowish pink (32), except for white spot splashed on integument over the ventral organs (Fig. 29).The number of pale primary papillae increases towards legs.Description of body.Dorsal papillae aligned on top of folds, with two primary papillae separated by one to three accessory papillae (Fig. 30).Both have conical and artichoke-like basal pieces, and are composed of overlapping lanceolate scale ranks.Primary papillae the largest dorsal papillae, bearing five to six scale ranks basally.Apical piece conical and reduced (Fig. 30), composed of three scale ranks on front side and two scale ranks on back side.Constriction between base and apical piece hidden by basal scale ranks.Bristle slightly displaced to posterior region of apical piece.
Head.Antennae composed of 43 to 47 rings.Antennal tip composed of seven broad rings, except the terminal disc on top, followed by sequence of narrow and broad rings until at least the eighteenth antennal ring.Jaws with two blades and both composed of one long curved main tooth followed by one accessory tooth.Dental formula of outer and inner for holotype and paratype are: 1/1 and 1/1/8 (Fig. 32).Legs.Males: 27 pairs of legs.Single female with 31 pairs of legs.Nephridial tubercle on fourth and the fifth pairs of legs, between third and fourth spinous pads (Fig. 31), no evidence of fifth spinous pad.
Sexual dimorphism.One or two pregenital legs with one or two crural papillae (male), absent in females.Anal glands inconspicuous (male); represented only by two pores on anterior margin of anal aperture, absent in females.
Remarks.This species was discovered comparing the descriptions with bona fide specimens of E. simoni from NHM and specimens collected from the Island of Marajó, Pará State, Brazil.The type locality of E. simoni is Caracas in Venezuela, with records in Breves, Island of Marajó (Pará State) and Rio de Janeiro State (see Sampaio-Costa et al. 2009).We examined the specimens of E. simoni from Breves identified by Bouvier (1905) deposited in the NHM and we considered a misidentification of the new species here described.Also, we examined the integument of the specimens of E. simoni from Rio de Janeiro (Sampaio-Costa et al. 2009: 556) and we believe both records are misidentifications and belong to undescribed species.

DISCUSSION
Since 2010, the number of species of Epiperipatus has increased through descriptions of new species and new combinations.After the five new species erected in this work, the genus became the most diverse of Neotropical onychophorans, now including 31 species.In Brazil, Epiperipatus is also the most diverse genus of Peripatidae, with 14 species (excluding E. edwardsii and E. simoni, Fig. 37).
As stated by Bouvier (1905), the males of Epiperipatus have two pairs of pregenital oncopods with crural papillae, while males of Peripatus have at least two pregenital oncopods with crural papillae.Any new species described here fits in the Bouvier's definition for Epiperipatus, because three of them present one or two pairs of pregenital oncopods with crural papillae (E.hyperbolicus sp.nov., E. lucerna sp.nov.and E. marajoara sp.nov.), or two or three (E.titanicus sp.nov.).According to Read (1988a), Epiperipatus has three ranks of scales in the apical piece, and less than 12 ranks of scales in the basal piece.We also do not agreed with Read (1988a) because E. beckeri sp.nov.and E. titanicus sp.nov.have a short apical piece bearing one rank scale, E. lucerna sp.nov.and E. marajaora sp.nov.have two ranks of scales in the apical piece and E. hyperbolicus sp.nov.has three ranks of scales in the apical piece.The short apical piece bearing one rank scale is a feature never seen in other species of the genus and is described for the first time (see Figs 7, 10, Table 1).
However, the five new erected species are herein assigned to Epiperipatus because they share, with other species in the genus, the rounded insertion of the dorsal papillae, and distinct nephridial tubercles between the third and fourth spinous pads.They are also nested within of Epiperipatus based on molecular synapomorphyes of found in COI, 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA sequences (Costa 2016).Although it does not mean a phylogenetic relationship (see Costa 2016), the species of Epiperipatus could be divided into two groups according to the dorsal folds (complete vs. incomplete).The group with incomplete folds is formed by E. acacioi, E. adenocryptus, E. barbadensis (Froehlich, 1962), E. barbouri, E. betheli (Cockrell, 1913), E. biolleyi, E. broadwayi (Clark, 1913), E. diadenoproctus, E. edwardsii, E. evansi, E. imthurni (Sclater, 1888), E. isthmicola, E. machadoi, E. nicaraguensis, E. ohausi, E. paurognostus, E. simoni, E. trinidadensis, and E. vespucci Brues, 1914.While the group with complete folds is formed by E. brasiliensis, E. cratensis, E. torrealbai Scorza, 1953, E. vagans Brues, 1925and E. tucupi Froehlich, 1968.Some species of Epiperipatus such as E. hilkae Morera-Brenes and Monge-Nájera, 1990 and E. lewisi Arnett, 1961 the dorsal folds are unknown.The five new species here present falls into the group with incomplete folds.Table 1 summarizes the morphological characteristics of Epiperipatus of the fourteen species present in Brazil.
Our study shows new characters to the taxonomy of Peripatidae.For instance, the few scales ranks on apical piece (see E. titanicus and E. beckeri), and the larger shape apical piece (see E. hyperbolicus).In resume, the new species differ from each other by the shape of the apical piece on the primary papillae.The apical piece of the primary papillae in E. titanicus is smaller than in E. beckeri.As for E. lucerna sp.nov.and E. marajoara sp.nov., they have conical apical piece, but E. marajoara sp.nov.has a smaller number of pairs of oncopods (27-31 pairs) and inconspicuous diamond pattern on the dorsal portion of the body.Among the five new species, E. hyperbolicus sp.nov. is distinguished by the particular shape of the apical piece of the primary papillae.Only in this species a robust and asymmetric spherical apical piece was observed.
Additionally, E. lucerna sp.nov., E. hyperbolicus sp.nov.and E. titanicus sp.nov.are the first species described in Brazil from the same locality, Estação Ecológica de Murici (Mata da Bananeira) in the Alagoas State, Brazil.This region is highland humid forest inserted in the realm of the Caatinga, and is really important to the understanding of the distribution and biogeographical history of onychophorans in the Neotropical region (Vasconcellos et al. 2004).
Due to the conservative morphology of Neotropical onychophorans, many specimens previously identified as E. edwardsii in the literature are not actually E. edwardsii.The characters that have been most often misinterpreted are the shape and distribution of the dorsal papillae, the dorsal diamond pattern, and the number of oncopods.A recent phylogenetic study revealed that E. edwardsii occurs only in Cayenne, or near this locality (Costa 2016).In addition, the specimens of E. edwardsii show diamond patterns on the dorsal side, rounded dorsal papillae, and basal and apical piece of the primary papillae covered by a small range of scale ranks.The broad distribution of E. edwardsii seems unlikely.Hence the records from Panama and Suriname (Bouvier 1905), Colombia (Brues 1914), Trinidad and Venezuela (Read 1988a, b) and Brazil (Clark and Zetek 1946, Froehlich 1968, Sampaio-Costa et al. 2009) belong to other species closely related to E. edwardsii and which share with it the similarities in the diamond shape on the dorsal pattern, and shape of the primary papillae.For the same morphological misinterpretation, we believe that all specimens from Brazil currently identified as E. simoni belong to undescribed species indeed.

6'
Asymmetrical apical piece with conical candle shape (Fig. 9), dorsal papillae aligned on top of folds (Fig. 18), with two primary papillae separated by one to five accessory, accessory papillae absent on flank of the folds (Fig. Symmetrical reduced or hidden apical piece (Fig. 7), two primary papillae separated by one to three accessory (Fig. 14), reddish brown background color of body (in vivo, Fig. 13), dorsal papillae aligned on top of folds (Fig. 14

Figure 37 .
Figure 37. Distribution records of species of Epiperipatus in Brazil.Colors on the map correspond to biomes.The new species are represented by stars on the map.The absence of E. tucupi, is due to the inaccurate original label (the only data is "Pará state").

Table 1 .
The main characteristics present in the Brazilian Epiperipatus species.