Redescription of Epiperipatus edwardsii, and descriptions of five new species of Epiperipatus from Brazil (Onychophora: Peripatidae)
Epiperipatusedwardsii(Blanchard, 1847) is redescribed based on fresh material collected near the type locality. Additionally, five new species of velvet worms of the genusEpiperipatusClark, 1913 from Brazil are described:Epiperipatushyperbolicussp. nov.,Epiperipatuslucernasp. nov.,Epiperipatustitanicussp. nov. (Holotypes deposited in MNRJ: Murici, Alagoas State),Epiperipatusbeckerisp. nov. (Holotype female deposited in MNRJ: Camacan, Bahia State) andEpiperipatusmarajoarasp. nov. (Holotype male deposited in MZUSP: Breves, Marajó island, Pará State). The peculiar shape of the primary papillae (artichoke-like) ofE.titanicussp. nov. andE.beckerisp. nov. is documented for the first time.Epiperipatustitanicussp. 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 ofEpiperipatus.