peripatus
Noun: A peripatus is any of numerous velvety-skinned, wormlike carnivorous animals common in tropical forests, having characteristics of both arthropods and annelid worms. It is a member of the phylum Onychophora, often called a velvet worm.
The word peripatus is used as a singular noun to refer to an individual animal of this type. It is a specific zoological term. * The biologist discovered a peripatus under the decaying log. * A key feature of the peripatus is its unique method of capturing prey by squirting a sticky slime.
- The plural form is peripatuses or, less commonly, peripati.
- The moist leaf litter was home to several peripatuses.
- Onychophoran (noun): The scientific name for an animal belonging to the phylum Onychophora; a synonym for peripatus.
- Velvet worm (noun): The common name for a peripatus, derived from its texture.
The term peripatus has only one specific meaning in modern English, referring to the described invertebrate animal. It is not used in other general or figurative contexts.
- Velvet worm
- Onychophoran
There are no common idioms using the word peripatus.
There are no phrasal verbs using the word peripatus.
- any of numerous velvety-skinned wormlike carnivorous animals common in tropical forests having characteristics of both arthropods and annelid worms