n. Any of various small wormlike carnivorous animals of the phylum Onychophora, chiefly of moist forests, having a soft cuticle of chitin and pairs of short claw-bearing legs. Also called peripatus, velvet worm. [From New Latin Onychophora, phylum name : Greek onux, onukh-, nail, claw; see ONYX + Greek -phora, neuter pl. of -phoros, -phore.] on′y·chopho·ran adj. |
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