[8] These five species, P. aurorbis, P. kawekaensis, P. morgani, P. sympatrica, and P. novaezealandiae (sensu stricto, that is, as more narrowly defined), have no morphological characters that distinguish them, but they are genetically differentiated.

[18] Sufficient moisture is vital for all Onychophora as they cannot regulate water loss due to a lack of both a waxy cuticle and tracheal spiracles.

[19][14][20] In 1989, several thousand of the P. otepoti were found on a property in Dunedin, living in an old kitchen dump among dry tins cans and sheets of roofing iron, and in a separate pile of bricks.

[21] The existence of the P. otepoti in a wide range of elevations forest, scrub and tussock,[3] suggests that prey availability and moisture are more important than vegetation type when determining habitat suitability.

[22] The eggs are fertilized internally, and babies develop inside their mother until large enough to be born, in batches of 4–6, as colourless miniatures of the parents.

[17] Hutton[18] originally claimed that individuals of Peripatoides novaezealandiae are hermaphroditic, possibly due to confusion regarding sperm storage sacs found within the female.

[24] Peripatids use their oral papillae to shoot out sticky slime which thickens upon contact with the air and covers prey in a strong, net-like structure.

[18][20] They approach and use their jaws to puncture the cuticle of the trapped animal, injecting digestive enzymes and sucking up the liquefied remains.

[11] The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) worked with the Department of Conservation, Dunedin City Council and Otago University to translocate any Peripatus impacted by the project, along with ongoing monitoring, management, and habitat enhancement.